Reports: Schalke defender skips training amid interest but Milan deem €8m fee too high | OneFootball

AC Milan are looking for a similar operation to the Marko Lazetic deal as they want to bring a defender in before the window shuts in five days.

Calciomercato.com confirms previous reports from other sources both in Italy and Germany by stating that Schalke 04’s Malick Thiaw is a target. However, there is competition from Napoli who have made enquiries, while some Bundesliga and Premier League clubs are in the running too.

The first request of €8m from the 2. Bundesliga side is judged to be too high by Milan, and they are following two alternative targets as well in Maxime Esteve of Montpellier (19 years of age) and Mattia Viti from Empoli (20).

The report cites Sport1 and Kicker in claiming that confirmations have arrived regarding the negotiation between Milan and Schalke to try to reach an agreement for Thiaw, and the player did not participate in yesterday’s training session with no official reasons having been provided.

Talks with Milan and the other interested teams are considered as one of the possible reasons for his absence, as well as the economic difficulties that the team based in Gelsenkirchen are facing.

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