AC Milan are evaluating their transfer budget for the summer and the loanees could give them a big hand, with buy-out clauses of €90m in play.
As highlighted by today’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport (see photo below), there is €87.5m on the table, specifically from the buy-out clauses of the loanees. Should most of these clauses get triggered, then Milan would find themselves with a treasure for the summer mercato.
It’s far from guaranteed money, however, and the Rossoneri know this very well. The best example is Noah Okafor in that sense as his clause is valued at €23.5m, a sum Napoli most likely won’t pay.
Pierre Kalulu’s buy-out clause is set at €14m and it’s almost a given that Juventus will trigger it in the summer. The Frenchman has impressed and the change of head coach shouldn’t affect his future with the Bianconeri.
Moving on to Alvaro Morata, he has a contract until January 2026 and thus won’t be redeemed in the summer, but the clause is valued at €8m. It seems likely that he will stay after doing well so far, and he’s happy in Istanbul as well.
Finally, we have the goalkeeper Devis Vasquez. He has lost his starting sport recently and Empoli could be relegated, so the purchase isn’t as guaranteed as it was a few months ago. The low figure, €1m, means it will likely be triggered regardless.
The uncertain operations
Lorenzo Colombo is another Milan loanee at Empoli. The striker feels a bit lost in his career and the €7m clause will likely not be triggered. The same goes for Noah Okafor who has a very hefty clause, with very slim chances of seeing it get triggered.
The most uncertain situations concern three midfielders: Yacine Adli, Ismael Bennacer and Tommaso Pobega. The former Bordeaux player had a great first part of the season at Fiorentina, but with the arrival of Nicolo Fagioli, some physical problems and the growth of Rolando Mandragora the €10m are no longer guaranteed for Milan.
Bennacer has only been at Marseille since February and the French side will make a decision on whether or not to pay the €12m at a later date. Pobega-Bologna is also 50/50: the Rossoblu backed out on Saelemaekers in the summer, will they do the same with the €12m for the midfielder?
No-clause players
Speaking of the Belgian, Milan have four other players on loan, but without buy-out clauses. The youngsters Kevin Zeroli (Monza) and Marko Lazetic (Backa Topola) will return to Milan. The Argentine Marco Pellegrino is doing well at Huracan and he might stay there.
Saelemaekers’ future must also be decided. In the summer he moved to Roma, with Tammy Abraham going the other way. A simple loan swap as the figures couldn’t be agreed on. And it won’t be easy in the coming months either.
Abraham has a much higher salary and a greater weight on the budget. At the same time, the Belgian has done very well in Rome. So much so that Milan could consider a permanent transfer, separate from Abraham, but for at least €15-20m.
