After months of transfer rumours, AC Milan’s pursuit of Youssouf Fofana has officially intensified. Following coach Paulo Fonseca’s clear message after the “Trofeo Berlusconi” match (“The midfielder? It’s Fofana, we all know it“), the Rossoneri have taken concrete steps, rekindling talks with Monaco to reach a definitive agreement for the 25-year-old midfielder.
Calciomercato report that Milan has reportedly increased their offer to €19 million fixed, plus €1 million in easily achievable bonuses and an additional €2 million in more challenging ones. While Monaco initially sought €25 million, there’s growing optimism about bridging this gap.
Fofana, who has expressed a clear preference for a move to Italy for several weeks, is now on the fringes at Monaco. He has communicated his unwillingness to consider a contract renewal beyond June 2025 and is training separately from his teammates. His inclusion in Monaco’s squad for their Ligue 1 opener against Saint-Etienne seems highly unlikely.
Monaco’s general manager Thiago Scuro recently stated, “If he doesn’t intend to stay, it doesn’t make sense for him to be part of the preparation. He has clearly expressed his desire to leave the club during the summer. We must respect that, and it doesn’t make sense, in such an important season, to try to retain a player who isn’t fully committed to us. Now it’s about getting the right agreement, the right transfer, which is what we’re focused on.”
Milan is leveraging Fofana’s unwavering desire to join them – he has already rejected a lucrative offer from West Ham – to present clear economic terms that won’t exceed €20 million in fixed base fee. The club is aware that if Fofana remains in Monaco beyond this transfer window, he could be approached on a free transfer from February 1, 2025, six months before his contract expires.
After pursuing Morata, Pavlovic, and Emerson Royal, Milan is on the final stretch to secure Fonseca’s fourth summer signing. Tactically, Fofana could be the most crucial addition in building Fonseca’s new Milan side.
The potential deal for Fofana, which includes a contract until June 2028 with a net salary of €3 million per season, could mark Milan’s most significant move of the transfer window, providing a key piece in Fonseca’s midfield puzzle.
