Milan are in talks with both Nicolò Zaniolo and Hakim Ziyech, but there are two significant differences in the deals that would see one of them join the Rossoneri in January.
Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara aim to bolster Stefano Pioli’s attacking options and have held talks with both Roma and Chelsea. According to Gazzetta, the defending Serie A champions have continued negotiations with Ziyech’s entourage although Zaniolo appears to be their priority at this stage.
La Gazzetta dello Sport analyses the differences between the two potential deals, bearing in mind that the Rossoneri would sign just one between Ziyech and Zaniolo in the winter transfer window.
Roma seek a permanent transfer for Zaniolo and have set a €40m price tag for the Italy international who wants to leave in January. However, multiple sources in Italy claim the Rossoneri will only make an offer to sign the player on loan with an option to buy tied to their Champions League qualification this season. The transfer package would be around €25m.
That’s far less than what Premier League side Bournemouth have offered and according to Sky Sport Italia’s Angelo Mangiante, the Giallorossi have given Milan 24 hours of time to raise their offer to €35m with an obligation to buy not linked to any season target.
Roma have given their green light to Bournemouth to start negotiations with Zaniolo, but the Italy international hopes his club will reach an agreement with Milan.
Zaniolo currently gets €2.5m at Roma and was seeking for a new €4m-a-year deal before asking to leave.
Ziyech, on the other hand, gets circa €6.5m at Chelsea, so his salary would be less affordable, although Chelsea are reportedly open to letting him leave for better conditions than those imposed by Roma for Zaniolo.
According to Gazzetta, the Blues would let Ziyech leave on loan with an option to buy. The Rossoneri would need to pay his salary until the end of the season, so circa €3m, which would be re-negotiated in 2023, should they make his move permanent. However, it remains to be seen whether the player would accept a lower salary from the summer.
Roma are also monitoring the Morocco international as Zaniolo’s replacement and have reportedly held positive talks with Chelsea and the player’s camp receiving the green light from both sides.
Milan have also been offered the chance to sign Allan Saint-Maximin, but the Rossoneri are unwilling to match Newcastle’s €30m asking price.