AC Milan have reportedly reached an agreement with RB Leipzig over an initial loan move for Noah Okafor.
The 24-year-old hasn’t entirely convinced since he joined the Rossoneri in 2023, scoring just seven goals and providing five assists in 52 appearances for the club, albeit some of those goal contributions were certainly crucial at the time.
READ MORE: Talks ongoing as Milan look to reach deal to sign loanee on permanent basis
With Sergio Conceicao now at the helm, the Portuguese tactician will want to mould the squad into his own for the second half of the campaign as we look to build on our Italian Super Cup success.
In turn, it doesn’t appear as though Okafor forms part of his plans, as Fabrizio Romano reports that the Swiss international is set to join RB Leipzig on loan for the remainder of the season, with his salary covered by the Bundesliga outfit.
Further, he notes that an option-to-buy clause has been included in the agreement worth around €25m to €28m depending on various performance-related factors, while Okafor will travel to undergo his medical on Friday and complete the formalities of the move.
Although he has talent and potential to fulfil, it’s questionable as to whether or not the forward will do that at Milan, and so should Leipzig exercise that option to buy, it’s surely good business from the Rossoneri.
Further, it will hopefully give us additional flexibility to go out and sign a replacement that perhaps suits Conceicao’s style and system better, and so it may well prove to be an important reshuffle in the final third.
We do still have plenty of options in that department, and so it will be intriguing to see if anyone else follows Okafor out the door this month, or if Conceicao is happy with the other players at his disposal.
While there is still a chance that we see Okafor return to Milan in the summer, it’s hoped that the loan move goes well, as it does feel as though it would be in the best interests of all concerned if Leipzig ultimately end up triggering the buy option and sign the Swiss ace outright on a permanent basis.
