Goalball Live understands that AC Milan is rekindling their interest for Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze, who currently plies his trade at Spanish first division side, Villarreal.
The Italian Serie A side have maintained an interest in him for two seasons but reports indicate that they could finally be making their move this summer.
Chukwueze has played the season of his life like a few other Nigeria national football team players and prospects based in Europe this season.
Those performances have not gone under the radar and Milan are now looking to seal his signature before any other interested clubs.
🚨 Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Everton, West Ham and Aston Villa are all interested in signing Samuel Chukwueze.
The 23-year old has scored 13 goals and got 11 assists for Villarreal this season.
(Source: Defensa Central) pic.twitter.com/CDNRDjbxNi
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) April 26, 2023
Chukwueze Wanted by Premier League, La Liga and Serie A sides
Samuel Chukwueze, 24, turned heads in the first quarter of 2022 when he led Villarreal to a famous result at the Santiago Bernabeu against Real Madrid in LaLiga. He scored two goals in that game after terrorising the feared backline of the LaLiga giants.
His performances caught the eye of Madrid's president Florentino Perez, who was reported to have approached Villarreal's president Fernando Roig about the former Nigeria national U-17 winger.
More transfer news also came out of the pipeline about Aston Villa in the Premier League looking to recruit him for his former manager Unai Emery ahead of the 2023/24 season. Some other Premier League clubs and Serie A clubs were also rumoured to have sought out his representatives to discuss with them.
Milan, however, have held an interest in Chukwueze as far back as the 2021/22 season but no reports about a move were recorded.
With Villarreal now looking to cash in on the AFCON 2023 squad hopeful who is one of their most valuable assets, Milan, who recently earned a UEFA Champions League spot thanks to Juventus being docked 10 points for financial impropriety, are now making concrete moves to sign the AFCON 2019 bronze medallist.
Villarreal pays tribute Samuel Chukwueze as Villarreal's youngest player to hit 200 games in all competitions.
Naija 🔥🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/5tyksyaMxh
— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) May 15, 2023
Calcio Style maintains, however, that Chukwueze is not their first option. The Rossoneri want Nicolo Zaniolo but will settle for the signature of the Villarreal man, who they have extensive scouting reports on.
Zaniolo Price Tag Could See Chukwueze at San Siro in the Summer
The report claims that the cost of the transfer operation for Nicolo Zaniolo, whose Serie A experience puts him ahead of Samuel Chukwueze for AC Milan, could see the AFCON qualifiers 2023 squad hopeful move up the priority list for the 2022/23 Champions League semi finalists.
Chukwueze has a transfer fee in the region of €20 million and a contract that is expiring in 2024.
This could lead to Milan choosing to negotiate with Villarreal instead as a cut price deal for the Nigerian winger is possible given the length of contract he has.
Chukwueze wants to play in LaLiga, however, and Milan could face competition from Real Madrid if they make their interest concrete and send people after the player.
2⃣4⃣ – Happy Birthday, @chukwueze_8! 🎂🎁⚽️🇳🇬#UCL | @VillarrealCF | @VillarrealCFen pic.twitter.com/bM6oginac6
— UEFA.com DE (@UEFAcom_de) May 22, 2023
They could also face competition from Aston Villa because the Premier League side's manager, Unai Emery, has a good relationship with Chukwueze.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago
