It was rather unexpected when Leeds cashed in on Ronaldo Vieira last summer, and the funds raised were indirectly used to complete a deal for Patrick Bamford. Now, in an even more surprising development, the 20-year-old is being eyed by AC Milan, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Italian newspaper understand the Rossoneri are looking for players who could move to the San Siro this summer, as Tiemoue Bakayoko has returned to Chelsea following his loan spell with AC.
Milan now have a gap in their midfield that must be occupied, as the French defensive midfielder featured in 31 of the Rossoneri’s Serie A encounters, along with a further ten appearances in the Italian outfit’s cup ties. His return to Stamford Bridge leaves Lucas Biglia as the only natural senior midfielder capable of playing the role, though, as Franck Kessie, Giacomo Bonaventura, and Lucas Paqueta are all considered inadequate.
As such, the San Siro natives are on the lookout for new men, and La Gazzetta dello Sport understand Vieira is one of the players in mind, as he would be a cheaper option than Sassuolo’s Stefano Sensi at close to €10million (£8.9m). However, the Thorp Arch academy graduate, now of Sampdoria, is also considered a riskier option.
When Leeds Live reporter Beren Cross shared that the former Whites star was on Milan’s radar less than a year after leaving United, here is how these Leeds fans reacted…
We got a sell on clause? @PhilHayYEP
— Bryn Johnson (@BrynLufc) June 9, 2019
Very odd. He wasn’t even a regular for Sampdoria last season, who finished lower than Milan. It would be a stretch to say Vieira was established at Sampdoria let alone link him with a bigger and better club.
— JG (@JohnnyGiles) June 9, 2019
His Superagent is good…
— ???????? ¡Waccoe ????????????????????????! ???????? (@WACCOE) June 9, 2019
Is this financial fair play? Forcing second tier clubs to sell off their best assets?
— Andrew Simpson (@ASimpsonWPG) June 9, 2019
We wouldn’t have had the sense to have a sell-on clause now, would we?
— Mike (@yonyteboah) June 9, 2019
And we got bamford in return ????
— marshall (@sales08988433) June 9, 2019
We sold a promising young player who is now being linked to AC Milan for £7m, and used that money to buy a donkey ????♂️
— Craig Bishop (@waccoecoup90) June 9, 2019
He’s done well then ????
— Crozzer???????? (@iannappa) June 10, 2019
Any knock on fee for us?
— Tony Goodwin (@TonyGoo51910248) June 10, 2019
Hardly plays still Milan no mugs can sense class hopefully sell on clause for Bielsa to invest in at @LUFC
— LeedsPal19 (@LeedsPal19) June 9, 2019
When he signs I’ll believe it
— the ScreamS ⏺️ (@NapoleonSols) June 9, 2019
Good luck to the boy, no kalvin Phillips though is he!
— Steven Ward (@SWard1975) June 9, 2019