Leeds United £31.2m bid for De Ketelaere waits on table as D-Day approaches for AC Milan
AC Milan are running out of time to match the offer from Leeds United for Club Brugge forward Charles De Ketelaere, according to Corriere Della Sera.
The Italian newspaper reported via their print edition on Thursday (14 July, page 42) that De Ketelaere, 21, is Milan’s top target after he was left out of Brugge’s pre-season friendly defeat to Copenhagen last week before returning to action for the Belgian champions on Wednesday (13 July) in a win versus Utrecht.
Leeds have reportedly tabled a club-record bid worth a total of £31.2million for De Ketelaere, which is more than the £26.2million currently being offered by Serie A champions Milan.
Corriere Della Sera adds that while De Ketelaere is keen on a move to the San Siro, Milan are not interested in getting into a bidding war with Leeds and “time is running out” for them to match Brugge’s demands.
It is understood that “by the end of the week, they would like to find out if the deal can be closed”.
Clock is ticking
AC Milan may be the Italian champions and are set to play in the Champions League group stages next season.
But that doesn’t mean they’re able to compete financially with a Premier League club.
Leeds are set to embark on their third consecutive season in the Premier League and that is bound to have helped boost the Elland Road coffers significantly.
Kalvin Phillips’ sale and Raphinha’s imminent move to Barcelona are also helping out massively, as is the investment from the San Francisco 49ers from November.
Milan are one of the biggest clubs in the world but even they are scared to go toe-to-toe with Leeds financially as they refuse to be drawn into a bidding war for De Ketelaere.
They know that the Belgium striker would rather join them.
It’s very similar to the Raphinha situation with Barcelona and Chelsea.
We’re Chelsea, in this example, and Milan are Barca.
Unfortunately, Chelsea won’t be getting Raphinha so let’s hope there’s a different conclusion in what is turning out to be yet another Leeds transfer saga this summer.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are set to use fresh funding to try and complete a box-office signing at Elland Road.