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Manchester United target Youssouf Fofana is reportedly prepared to reject the club and wait for his preferred destination of AC Milan.
After the impressive captures of Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee, the Red Devils have agreed a double deal for Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich.
Nonetheless, the Red Devils are still eager to sign at least one defensive midfielder before the transfer windows slams shut in 19 days time.
United would still love to do a deal for Manuel Ugarte but it is clear that Paris Saint-Germain will have to lower their asking price if a transfer is to take place.
Sander Berge and former player Sofyan Amrabat are also seen as potential options alongside AS Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana.
Fofana has been chased by Milan all summer but they have so far they have failed to match AS Monaco’s asking price. They reportedly fear they United will make a late attempt to “hijack” the deal.
Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport boldly assert that this won’t be an issue however as “Youssouf Fofana wants Milan.”
“The message that the French midfielder has sent through his entourage in via Aldo Rossi is loud and clear: after saying no to the offer from West Ham, Fofana is ready to decline the other offers that will arrive. Including the possible one from Manchester United who, despite wanting the Uruguayan Ugarte, have sounded out the waters” for the French international.
As he so clearly sees his future at Milan, it is claimed that he may wait to secure a move as a free agent next summer and stay an extra year in France.
Interestingly, it is reported that Milan do not want to go anywhere near Monaco’s valuation of €35 million but they feel that the “tough nut to crack could give up” at €25 million, however that is still described as too much for the Italian giants to pay.
United’s interest in the midfielder is also highlighted by fellow Italian paper Corriere dello Sport who report that Milan have agreed all with Fofana and now “everything depends on Monaco” to reduce the price.
They claim that “the competition from Manchester United seems to be “a relative alarm”.
If Fofana is available for only €25 million, it seems strange that United have not already made a move for the player, especially when they have been quoted €70 million for Ugarte and £30 million for Berge.
In addition, while it is impossible to know the true intentions of a player it would be surprising if the midfielder would reject a serious move to Old Trafford, especially in the context of Monaco not wanting him to stay a year and leave for free, much in the same way LOSC Lille demanded Leny Yoro moved to United and not wait a year to join Real Madrid in 2025.
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