Milan open Torreira talks with Arsenal

By Football Italia staff

Milan have begun negotiations with Arsenal by offering €38m for Lucas Torreira, claim Italian reports, albeit on a two-year loan with option to buy.

Coach Marco Giampaolo has identified the Uruguay international as the ideal reinforcement, having already worked with him at Sampdoria last season.

Arsenal only purchased the 23-year-old for €23m a year ago, but he has confessed to struggles settling in to English life and football.

According to SportMediaset, the first genuine talks have now started, with an opening offer to take Torreira on loan for two seasons at a cost of €5-8m.

There would then be an option to buy for a further €30-33m, taking the total cost of the operation to €38m.

The same report claims Arsenal are prepared to discuss it further, but that they want Milan to guarantee they’ll purchase Torreira outright.

Another issue is represented by his €3.5m per year wages, because the Corriere dello Sport newspaper insists owners Elliott Management have imposed a €2.5m per season salary cap on any new players.

Milan have fallen foul of Financial Fair Play rules after going through a series of owners and takeovers and are widely expected to strike a deal with UEFA.

It would see them back out of the Europa League for the 2019-20 season in exchange for more time to get the books fully balanced.

There could be a straight swap avenue for the Rossoneri, as Franck Kessie is on the market for €35-40m and it is his dream to play in the Premier League.

The Ivory Coast international does not suit new Coach Giampaolo’s style of football and could be sacrificed in exchange for Torreira.

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