Reports: Milan interested in Leicester centre-back – personal terms already discussed

Koni De Winter might not be the only centre-back signing AC Milan make, because there are reports of interest in Leicester’s Caleb Okoli.

Malick Thiaw has been sold to Newcastle United but has already been replaced by Koni De Winter, who will arrive from Genoa for €20m including bonuses having undergone his medical on Tuesday afternoon.

However, in pre-season the head coach Massimiliano Allegri has been playing with a three-man defence. This means that – in addition to Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia and Strahinja Pavlovic (plus De Winter) – a fifth option could be needed.

Okoli on the radar

As reported by Tuttosport (via Calciomercato.com), some signs have emerged that Milan are keen on signing Caleb Okoli. The Italian is under contract until June 2029 with Leicester, who acquired him from Atalanta last year for €14m plus €2.5m in bonuses after a season on loan at Frosinone.

In his first season in England, Okoli made 24 appearances, scoring a headed goal in a 2-2 Premier League draw at Brighton on April 12. His interests are being handled by the same agency as AC Milan midfielder Samuele Ricci, who arrived from Torino this summer.

Okoli represents a less expensive and more viable alternative to youngsters Giovanni Leoni of Parma (in talks with Liverpool) and Pietro Comuzzo, considered unsellable by Fiorentina at least for this summer: both are valued at around €40m.

According to Nicolo Schira, Milan are still interested in Okoli and are ready to open talks with Leicester next week. The centre-back has already given his availability to join Milan, on a contract until 2030 with a salary around €1.8-2m net per year.