Milan are set to continue rebuilding their squad in the summer transfer window, but will first need to move a number of their current employees on, with on-loan players Charles De Ketelaere, Divock Origi, Alexis Saelemaekers and Junior Messias the most likely to be sold permanently in the coming months.
According to recent information from Calciomercato.com, Milan could raise around €40m in funds if they were to move the four aforementioned players on before the end of the 2024 summer transfer window.
The most profitable player in Milan’s artillery of loaned-out players is De Ketelaere, who has enjoyed a renaissance under Gian Piero Gasperini at Atalanta.
The Belgium international unfortunately went a full calendar year without a goal for club and country while playing at San Siro, and was sent over to the Gewiss Stadium after a tremendously disappointing first year in Serie A.
De Ketelaere has since gone on to provide nine goals and seven assists from 26 appearances across all competitions, including 11 goal involvements from 20 matches in Serie A thus far.
Atalanta already paid Milan a fee of €3m to secure De Ketelaere’s loan until the end of the 2023-24 season, and also have an option to make the move permanent for a pre-arranged sum of €24m plus €3m in bonuses.
At a full cost of €30m including loan and transfer fees, Milan could recoup most of the €32m plus €3m in bonuses they originally invested in De Ketelaere in the summer of 2022.
Saelemaekers’ sale could also raise a significant sum for the Rossoneri. He is currently working under Thiago Motta while on loan with Bologna.
It is believed that the Rossoblu could make the move permanent for a fee of €11m, on top of the €500,000 they have already paid for the season-long loan.
The more imminent of Milan’s departures is likely to be Divock Origi. He has been on loan in the Premier League with Nottingham Forest, but has failed to make an impression under both Steve Cooper and Nuno Espirito Santo.
While Forest are unlikely to take up their option to buy for €4.5m at the end of the season, it is understood that his loan deal could be cut short to facilitate a move to MLS, for the same transfer fee.
Finally, Junior Messias, currently on loan with Genoa, could earn Milan a fee of €2.5m if he were to be sold definitively.
#Milan, tesoretto per il mercato: oltre 40 milioni dai riscatti https://t.co/TAWvxSgPvb pic.twitter.com/Sb7sOIQejr
— calciomercato.com (@cmdotcom) February 8, 2024