AC Milan fringe duo Ante Rebic and Junior Messias could find refuge in Turkey after Besiktas kick-started talks with the Rossoneri over their move to Istanbul.
Negotiations over the Croatian winger’s switch to the Super Lig are off and running after the 29-year-old turned down a substantial contract offer from Saudi Arabia.
Besiktas have taken the opportunity to collect information about Messias, who is also up for sale in light of the Italians’ aggressive recruitment campaign.
According to Calciomercato, Rebic remains a priority target for Besiktas as they hope to bring him to Vodafone Park on loan with an option to buy.
While their interest in Messias is genuine, the Turkish heavyweights will only concretise their effort to sign the 32-year-old forward once their pursuit of the ex-Eintracht Frankfurt man goes through.
But unlike Rebic, Milan will ideally sanction the Brazilian’s permanent departure, with Torino recently contacting the Rossoneri with a concrete proposal.
They are ready to put forward a €3 million bid for the former Crotone winger, while Milan may demand double that amount to green-light a deal.
Torino’s interest in Messias piles pressure on Besiktas to make up their mind soon to avoid seeing Il Toro hijack their move.
Both players are out of Pioli’s plans for the 2023/24 season after the arrivals of Christian Pulisic, Noah Okafor and Samuel Chukwueze increased competition for attacking spots.
In addition to snapping up as many as three new forwards, the Italians have landed Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tijjani Reijnders, reinvesting funds from Sandro Tonali’s transfer to Newcastle United.
But besides the €80m earned from the midfielder’s move to St James’ Park, they’ve opened their war chest for much-needed extra cash to finance the signing of Chukwueze from Villarreal.
Milan must offset their lavish summer spending, and offloading the abovementioned duo could be a good start, with numerous other unwanted players expected to follow.
Charles De Ketelaere, Divock Origi, Fode Ballo-Toure, Rade Krunic and Yacine Adli are other potential candidates to walk through the San Siro exit gates.
