The Sun jump the gun on Tottenham signing, as AC Milan boss speaks out

Krzysztof Piatek TEAMtalk

AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli was not giving much away regarding Tottenham target Krzysztof Piatek, but he did confirm the striker will be in their weekend squad at Friday’s news conference.

Pioli has called up 22 players for the game at the Sardegna Arena against Cagliari with no shock absentees, while a number of outlets are predicting that he will use a 4-4-2 formation with new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Rafael Leao up front.

That will leave Piatek on the bench again, as he was in the recent 5-0 defeat to Atalanta.

On Friday morning The Sun reported that Tottenham had agreed a deal for Piatek, who does look likely to leave Milan this month.

The paper claimed that Spurs will pay an initial fee of £23.8million, with a further £4.2million to follow in add-ons with the Poland striker poised to sign a three-and-a-half-year contract and all set to complete a medical in the next 48 hours.

The tabloid appear to have jumped the gun though, because Pioli said the 24-year-old will travel south to the isle of Sardegna for Saturday afternoon’s game.

“We have to live with the transfer market but given our current position everyone has to be fully focused on games. Piatek is called up and will be available for tomorrow,” said Pioli, via SempreMilan.

 

 

Pioli has no faith in Piatek and Sportmediaset via Sport Witness report that Milan are looking to sell the forward this month.

And while it’s suggested Piatek is “not agitating to leave Milan”, Pioli is keen to get rid and the club could look to cash in following the return of Ibrahimovic.

Spurs boss Jose Mourinho, who is also believed to be looking at Moussa Dembele, is looking to replace Harry Kane suffered the injury during the 1-0 Premier League defeat at Southampton and specialists advised an operation was needed.

Sky Sports report that Spurs and Milan have held talks about signing Piatek this month.

But they claim talks are not at an advanced stage and no formal offers have yet been made for the Polish striker.