SM Exclusive: Milan launch €12m verbal bid for Lille defender who is pushing for exit

SempreMilan

·24 April 2024

SM Exclusive: Milan launch €12m verbal bid for Lille defender who is pushing for exit

AC Milan have made a verbal offer for Lille defender Tiago Santos ahead of the summer transfer window, we can exclusively reveal.

While a lot of the media attention surrounding Milan pertains to the search for a new head coach, the management must simultaneously scout out potential deals and opportunities to bolster the squad in view of the summer.

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One of the roles that is being looked at is the full-back positions, more specifically on the right side where there appears to be more doubts than certainties at the moment.

The current options

While the purchase of a right-back might not feel like it is among the priorities heading into the summer because of the other positions that need to be addressed, Geoffrey Moncada and his team often move in surprising ways, like with the acquisition of Filippo Terracciano in January.

Looking at the current squad, we start with Davide Calabria. The captain is tied to a contract until June 2025 and talks over the renewal of his deal are apparently underway, but there are rumours that he wants his pay doubling amid some shaky performances.

Alessandro Florenzi has a contract expiring on 30 June 2025 and it seems like Milan have not yet made a final decision on the former Roma man, who joined the Rossoneri in August 2021, also given the significant salary (around €3m net per season, with no Growth Decree) that he receives.

Pierre Kalulu can be counted among the options for the right side of the defence, but it must be remarked that Stefano Pioli changed his primary position to centre-back, and he is struggling to stay fit leading to suggestions the club may cash in for a capital gain.

Alex Jimenez has played mostly for the Primavera this season and is out until June, but he is also considered among the options at right-back for years to come, especially given that reliable sources have spoken of a deal reached to make his loan from Real Madrid permanent. He could however form part of the U23 team in Serie C.

Then, we come to Filippo Terracciano who arrived from Hellas Verona for around €4.5m, but not much has been seen from him recently as he continues to struggle for opportunities. The 20-year-old is considered above all as a wild card. He can play on the right, his natural role, but can fill in at left-back, centre-back or even in midfield.

An opportunity emerges

According to the information we have received from sources close to the situation, Milan are interested in signing Lille defender Tiago Santos this summer.

Not only that, but we have been informed that Milan submitted a verbal proposal of €12m to sign the 21-year-old, which also includes a 20% resale clause in favour of the Ligue 1 side.

It is not yet clear whether that amount is deemed enough by Lille, but the player has made it known that he wishes to move on in the summer and try a new challenge.

Santos spent the majority of his youth career in the academy of Sporting CP where he actually played alongside Rafael Leao. Stints with Oeiras, Sacavenense followed, and then he went to Estoril in 2021, getting promoted to the senior side for the 2022–23 season.

His performances for them drew the interest of other clubs and Wikipedia recall that during the 2023 summer window Benfica had a €5m bid accepted by Estoril, yet Sporting CP were able to invoke an ‘anti-rival’ clause in his deal.

That particular clause stated that Sporting were owed €20m if the player was sold to Benfica or Porto and thus the move collapsed. Milan are well aware about the Lisbon club taking legal matters seriously, as the Leao fine saga demonstrates.

In July 2023, Santos signed a five-year contract with Lille who got him for €6.5m and he has since established himself as a starter for Les Dogues, with 39 appearances to his name this season, including three goals and two assists.

Santos also has a couple of caps for the Portugal U21 national team and is being tipped to make the jump to the senior side in time, so if Milan are able to wrap up a deal they could have the right-back role sorted for years to come.