AC Milan eye summer move for Raheem Sterling ahead of £850m takeover

AC Milan are reportedly plotting a summer move for Manchester City star Raheem Sterling for when their mega-money takeover goes through.

Milan are currently in the midst of a takeover process, with hedge fund owners Elliott Management Corporation in talks with Bahrain-based group Investcorp. The Bahrain Embassy in London confirmed on Monday that Investcorp had entered “exclusive negotiations for the purchase of AC Milan for $1.1bn”.

The Italian giants could therefore be about to follow Newcastle (Saudi Arabia), Paris-Saint Germain (Qatar) and Manchester City (Abu Dhabi) in being backed by Gulf money. Although based in Bahrain, Investcorp has ties to Abu Dhabi, because the city’s sovereign wealth fund Mubadala – whose chief executive is Man City chairman Khaldun Al-Mubarak – is one of the main shareholders.

Investcorp has deep pockets, with a portfolio of global diversified investments worth £32bn. If the £850m (€1bn) takeover goes through then Milan are expected to be furnished with a summer spending budget of £250m (€300m).

The current Serie A leaders already have big plans for their new-found wealth, with Sterling just one of a number of players being linked with a move to Milan. Sterling is out of contract with Man City in June 2023 and has been linked with various moves away from the Premier League champions this season.

After a difficult start to the season, which saw him regularly left on the bench by Pep Guardiola, he has once again become a regular for Man City in recent months. The 27-year-old forward has contributed 14 goals and six assists in 40 appearances across the 2021/22 campaign so far.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Manchester City allow Raheem Sterling to leave this summer? Comment below.

Gazzetta dello Sport reports that he is valued at around £41m (€50m), despite the fact he is about to enter the final year of his contract. According to theMirror, he could be joined in Milan next season by Liverpool striker Divock Origi, Real Madrid pair Marco Asensio and Isco, Ajax striker Sebastien Haller and Christopher Nkunku of RB Leipzig.

Origi will leave Liverpool as a free agent on July 1 and has long been linked with Milan, while both Asensio and Isco are on the fringes of Carlo Ancelotti’s Real squad. Isco is out of contract in July, while Asensio is about to enter the final year of his current deal.

Milan are currently top of Serie A, two points ahead of city rivals Inter, with five games left to play. Stefano Pioli’s side have played a game more than Inter, who claimed the title under Antonio Conte last season.

Source: Read Full Article