Manchester City plot free transfer summer swoop for AC Milan star
Manchester City have joined the transfer race to sign AC Milan defender Alessio Romagnoli on a potential free transfer in the summer, reports Fichajes.
Since joining AC Milan from AS Roma in 2015, Alessio Romagnoli, 26, has become a mainstay in their backline and served the club as the captain for many years. The Italian center-back has made 239 appearances for the Rossoneri and played a key role in their rise under Stefano Pioli in the last couple of seasons.
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However, the 26-year-old has entered the final six months of his contract at AC Milan and is now free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club. AC Milan are working hard on the renewal of Alessio Romagnoli but the negotiations are currently on standby. This has caught the attention of clubs such as Manchester City, Manchester United, and Barcelona, claims Fichajes.
The report adds Barcelona are monitoring the AC Milan star’s situation ahead of a possible summer swoop, as manager Xavi Hernandez and sports director Mateu Alemany look to improve the team’s defensive options following a woeful showing in the first half of the season.
Gerard Pique is approaching the end of his illustrious career, while the likes of Samuel Umtiti and Clement Lenglet are deemed surplus to requirements at Camp Nou. With Eric Garcia still getting grips with La Liga football, Xavi Hernandez and Barcelona are eyeing a top-class center-back in the summer.
Alessio Romagnoli, in return, would welcome a move to Barcelona, despite Milan making giant leaps under Pioli and fighting for the Serie A title this term, the report further states.
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From Manchester City’s perspective, interest in Romagnoli shouldn’t come as a surprise. Pep Guardiola does have a strong defensive unit—arguably one of the best in Europe—but Aymeric Laporte appears to have caught Barcelona’s attention recently.
If Laporte is enticed by the prospect of returning to Spain and joining the Catalan club in the summer, Romagnoli could be viewed as his perfect replacement at the Etihad Stadium. If Man City really do want the Italian international, it seems that the door is very much open.