Milan’s transfer strategy is still on the move as they look to strengthen their squad further. Paulo Fonseca is keen on implementing a 4-2-3-1 formation, and the Rossoneri are eyeing a midfielder to fill that critical role between the two holding players. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, sitting alongside Emerson Royal at Casa Milan, emphasized that the club’s efforts in the transfer market are far from over. “God created the world in seven days: for us, today is the first. Give us time,” he remarked during Fonseca’s presentation. With the recent signings of Morata, Pavlovic, and Emerson, Ibrahimovic playfully stated that they are “on the fifth day.”
The focus now turns to acquiring Youssouf Fofana from Monaco, who was notably left out of the squad for the Gamper match against Barcelona. Fofana has been Milan’s top target for nearly two months, yet Monaco hasn’t made the negotiation easy. In a clear gesture towards Milan, the midfielder requested not to participate in the game in Barcelona, and he continues to train alone. It appears he may even be willing to miss the start of Ligue 1, including Saturday’s match against Saint-Etienne.
Tomorrow, more clarity is expected when Monaco’s CEO, Thiago Scuro, addresses the situation. Two weeks ago, he revealed that both the club and Fofana had an agreement from last summer that allowed for a departure this transfer window, but certain conditions need to be met to finalize the deal. If those conditions aren’t met, Fofana could remain at Monaco until June 30, 2025, when his contract expires. Monaco had initially raised their asking price to €35 million when West Ham showed interest, but Fofana quickly dismissed that option, focusing on Milan instead.
Milan has reportedly made a final offer of €20 million, and while there is still some negotiation to be done, Ibrahimovic believes that the parties can reach an agreement. “Cardinale wants us to spend more, but I say no: let’s spend what we need to strengthen the team. Offensively, we are compact and strong; defensively, we’ve added Emerson and Pavlovic. We’ll see if there’s room for something extra. We’re working on it,” Ibrahimovic stated. His comments hint at continued interest in Fofana.
However, the situation could change significantly if Manchester United enters the race for Fofana, though Milan remains optimistic due to their agreement with the player for this season or as a free agent next year. Jorge Mendes was in England recently to negotiate terms between PSG and United for his client Ugarte, who could be making a switch, with Jadon Sancho potentially heading to Paris. This could open up opportunities for Milan in their pursuit of Fofana, although some in England view these moves as separate.
Should a deal with Fofana fall through, Ibrahimovic, along with Furlani and Moncada, may need to pivot to alternative targets, such as Manu Koné from Borussia Moenchengladbach or Johnny Cardoso from Betis. These players are of interest, but Milan would only pursue them decisively if they are fully convinced that securing Fofana is not feasible at this time.
