Gianluca Lapadula, Serie B's top scorer last season is said to be on the verge of a move to Italian giants AC Milan, The transfer would come as a significant coup for the struggling powerhouse of Italian football considering Juventus, Napoli, Sassuolo, Genoa and a whole host of foreign clubs were fighting it out for the Pescara hitman’s signature.
Italian sources Sky, Mediaset, Tuttomercatoweb and Gazzetta dello Sport were all reporting that Lapadula had chosen Milan, and the Rossonerri’s official website confirmed that he had his medical this morning at around 8.30 a.m local time. Lapadula is expected to sign his contract soon at Casa Milan, the club headquarters.
Pescara had already agreed on terms with all the above-mentioned clubs, and the decision was left to Lapadula, who has certainly taken his time in making up his mind. Napoli were favourites for his signature until Milan swooped in at the last minute and got their man.
Silvio Berlusconi, Milan’s eccentric owner is said to have been particularly keen on seeing this transfer go through and gave his nod for the club to proceed. The Chinese consortium that Milan are in advanced negotiations with regarding the sale of the club are also believed to have been consulted.
Sky reports that a fee of around €10 million has been agreed between the clubs. If this transfer were to go through, it would make Lapadula Milan’s second signing of the summer after 29-year-old left back Leonel Vangioni arrived from River Plate on a free transfer.
Milan are now reported to be pursuing Marko Pjaca, the 21-year-old Dinamo Zagreb player currently making an impression with Croatia at the ongoing Euro 2016 in France. Any bid for him though is said to be dependent on the departure of French talent M’baye Niang, possibly to the Premier League.
How Lapadula’s potential arrival would impact the future of Carlos Bacca, Milan’s Colombian star forward remains to be seen. What seems certain is that Milan have netted themselves one of the most sought after forwards in Italy.
Lapadula scored 30 goals in 43 appearances in Serie B (including the playoffs) and will be keen to now prove himself in the top flight Italian league.
