Ruben Amorim tries to swoop in on Man City’s deal and bring a €70m Premier League star to AC Milan.
Ruben Amorim is reportedly planning a surprise move to compete with Manchester City for a top Premier League star.
After 14 months in charge, Amorim was let go by Manchester United on January 6 due to poor results and a public clash with the club’s management. Instead of taking a break, the Portuguese coach quickly jumped into a new challenge, becoming the manager of AC Milan in June.
Amorim signed a three-year contract with AC Milan, taking over from Massimiliano Allegri, who was sacked after a season the club called an “unequivocal failure.” Now, ahead of his first season, Amorim looks ready to make another big signing, aiming to bring an exciting Premier League forward to Milan.
Earlier this summer, Amorim signed Gonçalo Ramos from Paris Saint-Germain for a club record fee of over €70 million (£60m). His next target seems to be Pedro Neto, Ramos’s Portugal teammate. According to The Sun, AC Milan is keen to sign the Chelsea winger, who tops their transfer wishlist before the window closes on September 1.
With reports that Rafael Leao may leave Milan this summer, Neto is seen as the perfect replacement. However, Chelsea is asking for a hefty fee of around €70 million (£60m), matching the record Ramos transfer.
That said, Milan might get a better deal if Chelsea needs to sell big before the transfer window shuts, especially after signing Morgan Rogers for a British record fee.
AC Milan isn’t the only club interested in Neto. Manchester City is also considering a move for the Chelsea star. City’s interest ties into the future of Savinho, who might leave the Etihad this summer after a tough time at the club. Tottenham Hotspur looks like the most likely destination for the Brazilian winger if he moves on.
If Spurs miss out on signing Savinho, they might try to swoop in and sign Neto instead, says Fabrizio Romano. Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo is another player Spurs have on their radar, but any deal depends on money and on Liverpool’s plans to sign PSG’s Bradley Barcola.