AC Milan looking at Abdou Diallo and Hincapie as Botman alternatives | OneFootball

AC Milan have lost the race for Lille defender Sven Botman, who has agreed to join Premier League outfit Newcastle United.

The Dutch centre-back turned out to be a top target for Rossoneri, and personal terms were also reportedly agreed months ago.

However, the Magpies managed to beat the Serie A champions by offering the Ligue 1 outfit around €37 million for the services of Botman.

Milan’s directors Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara are now looking for alternatives, with Calciomercato.com reporting that Paris Saint-Germain’s Abdou Diallo and Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie have emerged as potential targets.

Diallo struggled for game time last season, making only 12 appearances in Ligue 1.

The Senegalese defender is a more attainable target as PSG are open to selling him this summer, with Ligue 1 giants planning for a squad overhaul.

Milan tried for Diallo in January itself, so he could be open to moving to San Siro this time around.

Hincapie has enjoyed an impressive debut season in Bundesliga with Leverkusen, establishing himself as one of the best up-and-coming youngsters in Europe.

The 20-year-old has also been instrumental in Ecuador booking their place in World Cup 2022, impressing throughout the qualifying campaign.

Milan have to fend off fellow Serie A rivals Roma and Napoli alongside Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur for his signing.

However, Leverkusen are looking to keep hold of Hincapie for another season as they believe his price will skyrocket if he performs well in the World Cup in Qatar later this year.

Rossoneri have to reinforce their defence with the impending departure of Alessio Romagnoli, whose contract expires in a few days.

In addition, Simon Kjaer is yet to fully recover from a devastating knee injury he sustained last year, leaving Stefano Pioli and Fikayo Tomori as the only reliable centre-back options.