AC Milan have reportedly received a transfer boost as Bayer Leverkusen’s valuation of midfielder Granit Xhaka is now in line with what the Rossoneri would be open to paying for him this summer.
The 32-year-old has enjoyed an impressive stint with the Bundesliga side having been a key figure in their success under Xabi Alonso, while he has previous experience of playing at the top level with Arsenal and is an accomplished Swiss international.
READ MORE: Milan set to make improved proposal for top transfer target to address key area
With Milan making significant changes this summer to rebuild the squad for Massimiliano Allegri, it’s imperative that we find a balance between youth and experience, with leadership figures needed in the dressing room ahead of next season to help us navigate through a tough adaptation process and setbacks along the way.
It’s something that was arguably missing last season and proved to be a pivotal factor in our struggles, and so the club have hopefully learned lessons and will rectify it this summer.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Xhaka has emerged as a top transfer target for Milan this summer, and the midfield stalwart has seemingly helped convince Leverkusen to lower their demands for him to somewhere in the region of €8m to €10m.
It’s added that those figures would work for Milan who likely don’t wish to spend more than that on a player on the wrong side of 30, and so now it remains to be seen if an agreement can be reached between the two clubs, while it’s noted that there is alternative interest in Xhaka and so we may well face competition for his signature still.
Milan lost Tijjani Reijnders earlier this summer after his move to Manchester City, while there has been speculation that there could be further departures from our midfield, which is emerging as a priority area of the squad to be addressed ahead of Allegri’s first campaign back at the helm.
While sporting director Igli Tare seemingly confirmed that Luka Modric will arrive this summer, adding Xhaka would really solidify that part of the pitch with experienced heads with so much quality between them to help us control and dictate games in midfield, but time will tell if a deal can be done, or if Milan are still ultimately forced to consider alternative options in the transfer market to continue to allow Allegri to mould this squad into his own.
