Milan have laid their eyes on Mattia Viti while negotiating with Empoli. The Tuscan side asked for Andrea Conti, who will leave the club in January. The Rossoneri are looking to get an option on the young center-back. The 19-year-old has shown well in his first season in Serie A.
The Azzurri are currently the clear frontrunner to acquire the out-of-favor right-back, Calciomercato.com reports. They have pulled away from Sampdoria and Genoa in the race. Conti might even move on a permanent basis in exchange for a small fee or by giving the Rossoneri the inside track to sign the up-and-coming defender next summer. Empoli want to ship Riccardo Fiamozzi to a Serie B side before finalizing the acquisition from Milan.
Viti, who is left-footed, could be an option to replace Alessio Romagnoli, who is on an expiring contract. The talks with Mino Raiola have not progressed in recent weeks. The front office is focusing on the January window. Viti has featured in nine matches so far and held his own. Empoli rejected previous inquiries from Atalanta, Napoli, Inter, and Fiorentina, and Milan hope to gain an edge on the suitors.
The Rossoneri are also searching for an immediate contributor in the role given Simon Kjaer’s injury. Sven Botman remains their no.1 target, but they will need to bend Lille’s fierce resistance first, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports. Among the alternatives, Zurich’s Becir Omeragic is gaining steam over Fenerbahnce’s Attila Szalai and PSG’s Abou Diallo for various reasons, the publication adds.