GdS: How Ibrahimovic could unblock Milan’s negotiations with Feyenoord over Gimenez | OneFootball

AC Milan are pushing for the arrival of Santiago Gimenez this month and according to a report, Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be decisive along with the player’s will. Furthermore, the €20m limit will be thrown out the window.

Today’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport (see photo below) takes stock of the complicated situation. An agreement has already been found between the player and Milan, for a contract until 2028 with the option for another year.

However, while there is an agreement between Gimenez and Milan, Feyenoord have put up a wall between the two. The Rossoneri made an initial offer of just under €30m including bonuses for the striker in recent days, but received a firm no from the technical director Denis te Kloese,

The precedent

The Mexican striker, who also has an Italian passport, wants to join Milan at all costs and is pushing Feyenoord to agree to a sale. He was already courted by the Rossoneri in the summer, when they presented an offer on the final day of the transfer window.

The transfer fee remains a tricky subject, but there would be no issues with the salary. Gimenez currently earns around €900k per season and Milan are ready to offer him over €2m per season, which is perfectly in line with the club’s salary policy.

Bayern factor

For the time being, Feyenoord have blocked the operation more so for technical reasons. The valuation of €40m has always been made clear, even in recent months, but the biggest issue would be losing their star in the middle of the season. Even more so after the brace against Bayern Munich…

There is more, though. Feyenoord are in a difficult moment after having claimed just one point in the last three league games, and must improve to clinch a Champions League spot. The relationship between fans and the club is delicate and giving up the team’s star… would not help.

Therefore, everyone is saying ‘no thanks’ in Rotterdam currently.

Ibrahimovic will try

In football, however, money can change anyone’s mind. Perhaps even a tough nut like Te Kloese, who Zlatan Ibrahimovic knows well. The two met at the Los Angeles Galaxy when the Dutchman had just been appointed general manager, and Ibrahimovic was the star of the team.

It was Te Kloese who satisfied Ibrahimovic in January 2020, when the Swede left America to return to Milan. Who knows, maybe the Swede will try to convince him this time as well, even if the feeling is that the Rossoneri must first raise their offer.

A player – or a relationship like Ibrahimovic’s in this case – can influence a transfer when the gap between offer and demand is small, but certainly not more than €10m.

Over the €20m limit

Milan are ready to make a significant economic effort to land the striker, regardless of what will happen on the outgoing front. To be clear: we have already gone and will inevitably go well beyond the €20m limit of the last transfer windows.

The Rossoneri directors have identified Gimenez as the right striker to bring the team the goals that Sergio Conceicao is missing and that Fonseca was previously lacking. The market, in January, doesn’t offer another number 9 of international calibre.

The (difficult) alternatives

So, what would happen if Feyenoord were to close the door for good? At that point, barring any surprises, Milan would remain vigilant on the market. Chelsea’s Joao Felix is highly appreciated by Conceicao but reaching an agreement with Chelsea would be difficult.

Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund, if another centre-forward were to arrive at Old Trafford, would become a real option. Much will also depend on the sales in attack: Noah Okafor and Samuel Chukwueze have admirers abroad, while Monza remains an option for Luka Jovic.