CalcioMercato have claimed that AC Milan could look to swoop for rumoured Tottenham target Nicolo Zaniolo during the summer.
Zaniolo has been linked with a move to Tottenham in each of the last two transfer windows, with some reports even suggesting last month that the North London club were close to striking a deal with AS Roma for the 23-year-old (90 min).
In the end, Spurs decided to bolster their forward line with the acquisition of Arnaut Danjuma on loan instead while Italy international completed a move to Galatasaray for a fee of £19.5m, with his contract at the Turkish club thought to have a release clause of £31m (Fabrizio Romano).
CalcioMercato now state that Milan’s technical director Paolo Maldini is a ‘great admirer’ of Zaniolo and that the Rossoneri tested the waters for the winger in January but did not have the budget to push ahead with an operation.
The report adds that Maldini is still in contract with the Galatasaray star and that Milan could meet the player’s release clause in the summer if he does well in Turkey.
CalcioMercato assert that Zaniolo would be open to moving to the San Siro as he ‘dreams’ of wearing the famous red and black shirt.
Spurs Web Opinion
If Zaniolo proves his fitness at Galatasaray over the coming months, a whole host of clubs from across Europe, including Spurs, will likely be willing to pay his release clause in the summer.
It is clear that both Conte and Paratici are fans of the 23-year-old and I suspect the winger’s fitness issues were the main reason that Tottenham were not keen on a permanent deal for the player last month.