Another name has emerged as a potential option for AC Milan in their pursuit of a new playmaker: Claudio Echeverri of Manchester City.
With Konstantinos Karetsas having agreed a move to Borussia Dortmund, Milan need to look at other profiles for the role of attacking midfielder. Matias Soule of Roma entered the frame on Tuesday, but there are other possibilities too.
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Calciomercato.com report that around this time one year ago nearly everyone wanted Echeverri. Roma were the team in Italy who came closest to landing him, but his parent club Manchester City would only agree to a dry loan.
Bayer Leverkusen were willing to accept those terms, but under Erik Ten Hag first and then under Kasper Hjulmand, the former River Plate star didn’t find much playing time (11 appearances in the first half of the season).
His loan there was ended and he went to Girona in January, a club controlled by City Group. That didn’t really turn his season around either: Echeverri finished with one goal in 17 games (against Athletic Bilbao) and a painful relegation.
Echeverri offered to Milan
Echeverri – whose contract expires in 2028 – has left for Manchester City’s Asian tour. Enzo Maresca wants to test him in matches against Inter (Hong Kong, August 1), the K-League All-Stars (Seoul, August 5), and Atlético Madrid (Seoul, August 9).
It seems another exit is on the cards, though. Intermediaries have offered him to Milan, who are seeking a player with his characteristics. For now, the Rossoneri have other ideas, and they can only sign one more non-EU player having recruited Andrej Kostic from Partizan Belgrade.
River Plate are strongly interested in Echeverri, who would like to sign him on loan. Los Millonarios president Stéfano Di Carlo wants to add the ‘Diablito’ to Otamendi, Arambarri and Ángel Correa. City, though, want to loan him to a side in Europe.