AC Milan ditch Bakayoko and open talks with new midfielder

AC Milan have pulled the plug on Tiemoue Bakayoko deal. Maldini is looking at other players to bring at San Siro this summer.

As acmilaninfo.com first reported, unlike what others claimed that Milan would announce the signing of Tiemoue Bakayoko this week, the parties are quite far. Journalist Carlo Pellegatti reveals that the Rossoneri have ditched Bakayoko for good and are looking at other targets.

The reasons are purely economical. AC Milan have offered Chelsea 3 million for loan plus 20 million for the right to buy. Way too low according to the Premier League club who want at least 30 million in order to make Bakayoko’s transfer to Milan permanent.

The two clubs have been in negotiations for a long time but without making any significant progress. Milan will not go beyond 23 million and the logic behind this decision is simple. The French midfielder has been quite inconsistent throughout his career. He did quite well at Monaco and Milan but his spell in England was a total flop as the return in France last season was not positive.

The 26-year-old defensive midfielder has been pushing to join Milan and he has agreed personal terms since July. Nevertheless, Chelsea have no chelsintention of making any discounts forcing Milan to look around for other names.

The top alternative choice of Paolo Maldini is Boubakary Soumare. The  21-year-old French midfielder has done quite well with Lille attracting the attention of many European clubs. Soumare has a price tag of around 35 million euros but the good relationship of Elliot with Lille (Elliot helped them avoid bankruptcy) 

READ MORE: Maldini’s biggest transfer dilemma