AC Milan manager Paolo Maldini has confirmed that I Rossoneri is set to close a deal to sign Chelsea center-back Fikayo Tomori.
Milan are keen to add a new defender this month and had targeted Strasbourg’s Mohamed Simakan, but a combination of injuries and links to RB Leipzig saw the Italian side move away from Simakan and move towards Tomori.
Talks between the two sides have been going on for a few days and Maldini recently revealed that things are about to end.
“It’s very close, but in this market things can fall apart because of a missing detail,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “It’s a dynamic market, but it’s normal that we follow Tomori. We tried to recruit him last summer as well because we saw some characteristics in him that we think are perfect to complement our defensive department. ”
Despite Maldini’s caution, we don’t think there are too many obstacles at the end of this one.
It has been suggested the deal could crumble at the last minute due to Milan’s determination to insert an option to sign Tomori for around £ 25million, which manager Frank Lampard appears to be against.
The boss recently insisted (via the Daily Mail) that he still had a ‘long-term plan’ for Tomori, and then insisted Chelsea were just focusing on what was wrong. better for the 23-year-old’s career.
“I don’t think there is a ‘when it started to go wrong’, Fikayo is a developing player. As a team, we had four center-backs last year, and you can’t play four in a game, ”Lampard said (via Goal).
“And you try to find consistency at different times. At one point, Fikayo was in there, and later not so much. And this year we have five center-backs, so it’s tough for center-backs who aren’t playing. regularly.
“And that’s why he can be loaned out for his development, he’s a young player and he’s had a huge increase over the last two seasons or so since I’ve been working with him, and that will continue, and we’ll find the best. way for it. “
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