Caught Offside are today reporting exclusively that AC Mian are “ready to start” transfer talks over Carney Chukwuemeka, whom it was revealed by Fabrizio Romano last week has a £40m release clause in his Chelsea contract.
Sources close to to the situation say Milan want a loan, and would be willing to insert a buy option for €20-25m. That seems unlikely – even selling him at €40m seems unlikely, why on earth would we given him away for half that?
A loan is just about feasible, as he’s got plenty of time left on his contract and could really increase his value with a season playing steadily. But there’s no way we would put a buy clause into that deal anywhere too far below the £40m release clause. It would only take one strong season from him to make that look cheap, let alone €20m. Once again, Milan look set to low ball us all summer.
Still just 20, Carney might be tempted by the minutes available, but he will still likely want to make a breakthrough at Stamford Bridge above all.
The results of such a move
We’d be gutted to see Carney go, and we think most fans would be too. In his two years at the club he’s shown real promise almost every time he’s seen the pitch, and it was only thanks to the decisions of his coaches and to the injuries he suffered last year that he didn’t play more.
We can see him really shining in Serie A, much like Ruben Loftus-Cheek before him, but before we get to that stage we need to see him given a proper crack at the first team at Stamford Bridge. His versatility and technical skill should make Enzo Maresca a huge fan, and we hope we keep hold of him in the face of any major offers from abroad.