Paris Saint-Germain are closing in on the biggest transfer deal of the summer so far with reports claiming AC Milan defender Thiago Silva is in the French capital discussing a potential move to the Qatari-owned club.
Silva is believed to have been given permission to travel to Paris for talks, with a fee of over €40million mooted for the Brazil international, making him the most expensive defender in football history.
Only last week Silva, 27, pledged his future to the Rossoneri, insisting he was happy to stay at the San Siro, in the wake of renewed interest from long-time admirers Barcelona.
New Barca boss Tito Vilanova was understood to have made the former Fluminense man his No1 summer transfer target, but he now looks set to be gazumped by PSG counterpart Carlo Ancelotti.
Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri was adamant last week the club would not sell the centre-back, who he described to Sport360° on the club’s visit Dubai earlier this year as the “best defender in world football”.
However, Milan’s well-documented “economic problems”, as Zlatan Ibrahimovic recently described them, looks set to force the club into cashing in on one of their prized assets.
The Rossoneri are looking to raise funds in order to rebuild their squad in the close season after a host veteran stars left the club last month including Gianluca Zambrotta, Alessandro Nesta, Mark van Bommel, Gennaro Gattuso, Clarence Seedorf and Filippo Inzaghi.
PSG sporting director and former Milan boss Leonardo, who played a influential role in bring Silva to Italy in the first place, has admitted the French giants are working on a deal. “We are trying to negotiate for Thiago Silva, but it won’t be easy to sign him,” he said.
Meanwhile, the stopper’s agent has also added more fuel to the fire after he confirmed PSG’s desire for the Brazilian. “For now he is still a Rossoneri player, but anything can happen,” Paulo Toninetto told RMC. “I know that PSG are interested in the player. Let’s see what occurs.”
News of Silva’s imminent departure is unlikely to go down well with Milan fans, 75 per cent of which voted in a recent poll in Italy that they’d rather see Ibrahimovic leave the club than their star defender.
However, former Brazil boss Dunga believes Silva will eventually end up in Paris. “PSG are after him [Silva] and he could be a great reinforcement,” he told TMW.
“Leonardo will do all that he can to take him to France. “I know that he wants him at all costs and, even if Milan will try to keep him, I think the move will take place.”
* For breaking news, follow us on @Sport_360 or find us on Facebook.
