Reports: Pellegri’s loan at Milan set to be cut short, 18-year-old Lazetić to join for €5m to act as the third striker | OneFootball

Pietro Pellegri during training at Milanello. (@acmilan.com)

Marko Lazetić is expected to be Milan’s first January signing, taking the place of the disappointing Pietro Pellegri.

20-year-old Pellegri joined Milan in the summer on loan with option to buy from Monaco, but failed to really contribute anything, spending almost his entire time with the team on the bench or on the treatment table with an injury.

In the last week there have been many reports about the future of Pellegri, who is set to leave Milan next week.

The Italian media (Sky, Milannews.it and others) suggested that Milan were trying to buy-out Pellegri from Monaco and then send him on loan to Torino. However, it seems that an agreement could not have been reached between the parties, but Pietro will join Torino anyways, straight from Monaco who will continue to own the player who made a name for himself at Genoa at 16.

Paolo Maldini and Frederic Massara are going to replace Pellegri, and all the media outlets in Italy are saying that Milan are set to buy Marko Lazetić from FK Crvena zvezda. The Serbian striker, who turns 18 on this very day, is said to be joining next week for €4m plus €1m of bonuses.

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Lazetić is described by Milannews.it as “elegant, he combines great physical strength, endurance and power with an already good-level of reading situations: he feels the goal, knows how to unmark himself and succeeds in being useful in team-play and in exchanges with teammates. He has a good basic technique. For a player of his size – his speed, agility and coordination are remarkable.”

Marko, who is labeled by some as ‘the next Dušan Vlahović’, will occupy a non-EU slot. The deal is expected to be completed between Monday and Tuesday. He’ll be behind Ibrahimović and Giroud.