AC Milan are plotting a summer swoop for Udinese captain Rodrigo De Paul as they prepare for life after Hakan Calhanoglu. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (via MilanNews), the Rossoneri are on the lookout for a top-class playmaker after extension talks with the Turkey international hit the stalemate.
After enduring a torrid start to his Serie A career, Calhanoglu has become a beating heart of Stefano Pioli’s side. However, the 27-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and has yet to commit to a new deal at the San Siro.
In the meantime, while enjoying a rise to stardom at the Dacia Arena, De Paul has earned high acclaim for his playmaking skills and typically high-octane performances. There is a genuine feeling that the Argentine deserves better than fighting relegation.
With the 26-year-old’s contract running out in summer 2024, Udinese are not in a hurry to sell their headline performer. But given the financial fallout of the coronavirus crisis, the Friulians need to make up lost revenues by selling high-rated De Paul at the end of the season.
The former Valencia flop has been instrumental to his side’s mid-table charge this season, tallying eight goals and eight assists in Serie A so far. De Paul flop won’t go cheap by any stretch of the imagination, with Udinese pinning a sizeable €40million price tag on their jewel’s head.
The Rossoneri themselves are cash-strapped and are not able to fork out such a figure. Much of Milan’s movements in the upcoming transfer window will depend on whether or not Pioli manages to guide them to next season’s Champions League.
Following a string of underwhelming results, the Lombardian giants have tumbled outside the top-four, albeit they remain level on points with fourth-placed Juventus.
Maldini will have to be creative in the summer to strengthen Milan’s squad as he will be operating on a tight budget. The Italian’s idea of signing De Paul will hinge on Udinese’s willingness to accept counterparts in the deal.
Indeed, the Rossoneri are ready to offer Jens Petter Hauge as a makeweight, with Tommaso Pobega and Marco Brescianini also thrown into the mix.
De Paul has also attracted interest from Inter and several sides abroad and a summer departure is well on the cards.