Milan Eyes Zaniolo as Transfer Saga Continues
The tug-of-war between Nicolò Zaniolo and Udinese is turning into a summer saga, and Milan are watching every twist with interest.
Udinese believed they had done enough. A new contract, a show of faith, the promise of a central role. Yet the deal has stalled on the details that often decide everything at this level: bonuses and incentives. Zaniolo is unconvinced, and he is making that clear.
While the Bianconeri have already begun pre-season work, the 27-year-old has stayed on holiday, backing his absence with a medical certificate. It is a pointed move, and one that underlines just how strained the relationship has become. Udinese still hope to patch things up, but there is a growing sense that a line may soon be crossed and the club will choose to cash in rather than continue the stand-off.
If that door opens, Milan intend to be first through it.
Milan Ready for Zaniolo Opportunity
The Rossoneri are prepared to move with a bid in the region of €15–20 million for Zaniolo should Udinese put him on the market. The signs are already there: his agent, Claudio Vigorelli, has been seen at Milan’s headquarters, a familiar prelude in the Italian transfer theatre.
Zaniolo would not lack suitors inside Serie A if he forces an exit, but Milan can offer something others cannot: the chance to be the left-footed attacking wildcard Ruben Amorim is looking for. The coach wants a lefty forward to diversify his front line, to add a different angle of threat in the final third. Zaniolo, with his power and ability to drive at defenders from the flank or between the lines, fits that profile.
Yet he is not the only name on the list. Not even the most glamorous one.
Foden, the Big Swing
Phil Foden sits at the other end of the spectrum: a marquee name, a headline signing, a statement to the rest of Europe.
Milan are contemplating a move for the Manchester City star, aware that his future could hinge on what Pep Guardiola’s side do next in the market. If City bring in more top-tier attackers, Foden could become available for around €50–60 million. That is the figure being discussed, a fee that would test Milan’s financial limits but also underline their ambition.
Foden is coming off a mixed campaign. The numbers – 10 goals and 7 assists in 50 matches – are respectable, but his influence faded in the final months of the season. For a club like Milan, that dip might actually present an opening: a world-class talent who might be prised away before he hits his absolute peak, if the timing is right and the competition hesitates.
He, too, would answer Amorim’s call for a left-footed attacker, bringing vision, creativity between the lines and the capacity to change a game with a single touch.
Young Targets Slipping Away
While the spotlight falls on Zaniolo and Foden, Milan’s work on the next generation is proving trickier.
They are currently behind in the race for two highly rated youngsters: Konstantinos Karetsas, where Borussia Dortmund are in front, and Kerim Alajbegovic, with Atalanta leading the chase. Both are viewed as long-term investments, the kind of signings that can shape a squad’s future, not just its present.
For now, Milan trail in those particular battles, which only increases the pressure to get at least one of the bigger attacking moves right.
So the picture is clear. A contract dispute in Udine, a potential reshuffle in Manchester, and a coach in Milan waiting for the left-footed weapon that could redefine his attack. The question is not whether Milan will move – it is which door will open first, and how bold they are prepared to be when it does.
