AC Milan couldn’t have hoped for a more sluggish start to the summer transfer window after parting ways with midfield stalwart Sandro Tonali.
The Italian’s exit has put the club’s new management at the mercy of the fans, creating an urge for a star signing to settle the nerves of the devastated supporters.
Paris Saint-Germain striker Mauro Icardi, who enjoyed a stunning season-long loan at Galatasaray, may not be the name to get the board off the hook, but that won’t stop them trying.
According to SportMediaset, the Serie A giants have established contact with Les Parisiens to sound out a move for the 30-year-old, who could be available for around €15-20 million.
Considering Milan earned upward of €70m from Tonali’s switch to Newcastle United, matching PSG’s demands shouldn’t be a problem, although the player’s wages could throw a spanner in the works.
Icardi’s €7m net per season salary is beyond the Italian powerhouse’s reach, so it would take some persuading to get the Argentine to lower his income to facilitate a return to Serie A.
Before joining PSG in 2019, the prolific striker used to be one of the fiercest goalscorers in Italy’s top flight, wearing the colours of Milan’s arch-rivals Inter Milan.
During his standout career at Giuseppe Meazza, the ex-Sampdoria and Barcelona marksman racked up 124 goals in 219 appearances across all competitions.
That form secured him a mega-money move to Ligue 1.
While his career at the Parc des Princes hasn’t worked out, Icardi reminded the world of his scoring prowess last season, tallying a mesmerising 22 goals from 24 league outings for Galatasaray.
His outrageous scoring exploits helped Okan Buruk’s team win the Super Lig for the first time since 2019, generating interest from the Rossoneri in the process.
After Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced his retirement, Milan have been in the market for a new striker to fill the vacancy, with Olivier Giroud and Divock Origin remaining as Stefano Pioli’s only senior centre-forward options.
But the Frenchman is already 36, while the former Liverpool man failed to impress in his first season at the San Siro, forcing the club to seek a more reliable alternative this summer.
