Alaybegović: The World Cup Star AC Milan Have Been Tracking for Months
Among the hottest names on AC Milan’s transfer radar stands Alen Alaybegović, the attacking midfielder of Bayer Leverkusen who lit up the latest World Cup with a string of impressive performances, including a decisive goal. A profile Milan fans know well — the Rossoneri had already been monitoring him for several months, back when the player was still turning out for Red Bull Salzburg.
A Long-Standing Interest: Milan Have Had Their Eye on Him for a While
Alaybegović’s name is not new at Milan. According to reports, the club’s scouting department — under the previous technical and management setup — had already watched the player in person during his time at Salzburg, adding him to a list of profiles to monitor for the attacking midfield role. That interest has remained alive and, following his World Cup breakout, has inevitably intensified.
The fact that Zlatan Ibrahimović, RedBird’s key figure within the club, has reportedly shown appreciation for the player is not a minor detail. When Ibra backs a name, Milan tends to act decisively.
Atalanta Have Re-Entered the Race: Milan Risk Missing Out
The situation has, however, grown more complicated in recent hours. According to the latest reports, Atalanta have resumed contact with Alaybegović’s agents, re-launching their bid for the attacking midfielder. La Dea, one of Italian football’s biggest movers in recent years, know how to operate in the transfer market and could close quickly if conditions are right.
Bayer Leverkusen, for their part, have no intention of selling cheaply: their asking price is high, boosted further by the player’s excellent World Cup showings. A valuation that should not, however, deter a Milan club that — as confirmed by RedBird owner Gerry Cardinale — has committed to investing heavily in the new Amorim era.
Why Milan Must Not Wait
The real risk is losing a player on whom significant scouting time and effort has been spent, only to see him join a domestic rival. A quality attacking midfielder like Alaybegović, were he to join Atalanta, Roma or another Serie A club, would become a headache to deal with for years to come — both in the league and in European competition.
Having already confirmed Gonzalo Ramos up front and Mario Gila at the back, Milan must now complete the midfield and the number ten position. Alaybegović would be an ideal addition to Amorim’s tactical vision, which calls for technical profiles capable of making the difference in tight spaces and linking play between the lines. Can Uzun, Karetsas and Alaybegović himself had already been identified as names on the Portuguese coach’s shortlist.
The transfer window is open, and rivals are already moving. For Milan, the time to accelerate is now.
