The summer window is now fully in motion with Leeds United working hard to bring in some new signings to give Daniel Farke the best chance of Premier League survival.
But alongside incoming players, there will be some that leave. Already this summer, Josuha Guilavogui and 10 other Leeds youngsters are set to leave the club when their contracts expire at the end of June.
Leeds also confirmed in their retained list that Sam Byram and Junior Firpo are in talks with the club, while Manor Solomon and Joe Rothwell have returned to their parent clubs. Five key players could leave, then.
Players could be sold too, with doubts remaining over the futures of players such as Illan Meslier, Patrick Bamford, Max Wober and Mateo Joseph – but it is Firpo that is generating interest ahead of his expiry.
Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty ImagesAC Milan open talks to sign Junior Firpo after Lyon approach
It emerged on Saturday that French giants Lyon wanted to sign Firpo. Fabrizio Romano reported that Lyon had made a formal approach to land Firpo on a free transfer, with a response yet to be provided by Firpo.
Now, Italian newspaper Gazzetta Dello Sport deliver an update from the Italian side of things. AC Milan have just hired a new sporting director and manager after a poor season, in Igli Tare and Max Allegri.
Left-back is a priority for Milan, who failed to qualify for any kind of European football last season. Theo Hernandez is being linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, and the France international needs replacing.
The GDS report says that Milan have also opened talks with Firpo’s entourage over a possible deal. They join Lyon in talks with Firpo’s representatives ahead of a free transfer, and ending Firpo’s four-year stint.
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However, AC Milan prefer a Tottenham defender to Junior Firpo
But Firpo is not the only player on Milan’s shortlist this summer. Indeed, the Dominican Republic star – who is currently with his country ahead of World Cup and Gold Cup fixtures – is trailing a Spurs player.
The report from GDS states that Milan would prefer to sign Italy international Destiny Udogie from Tottenham, a player Spurs spent £21m to sign from Udinese. But, Udogie has a contract until June 2030.
Tottenham will not want to sell Udogie and it appears the left-back is happy in North London, enough to ignore a return to his home nation. It may well mean that Milan are forced to look at Firpo over Udogie.