AC Milan News and Transfer Roundup

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Milan is a mere three points behind Juventus in the race for the Scudetto with four matches still to play. Despite the team's focus on upcoming fixtures, news continues to surface of impending transfers and other deals in the works.

After the club's performances in recent weeks, more rumblings about players coming and going have leaked out of the Milanello. But it's not all transfer news, as manager Massimiliano Allegri's job is still not confirmed for next season. 

Here is this week's up-to-the-minute news on the Rossoneri.

PSG and Corinthians Interested in Pato

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The often-injured striker, Alexandre Pato, has been linked to two clubs in recent weeks. France's Paris Saint-Germain is once again interested in the Brazilian. The club tried to sign the striker in January of this year, but the move fell through. 

Pato's former Milan manager, Carlo Ancelotti, is currently at the helm of Le Parisians, along with former Milan technical director Leonardo, who works as Paris Saint-Germain's sporting director. Despite Pato's regular injury woes, the club has shown no fears of signing him. Meanwhile, it's believed Milan is finally ready to sell the striker who has only played 11 times this season.

Paris Saint-Germain may have competition from Brazilian-side Corinthians, however. The club is looking to sign "world class" talent, and they feel Pato is one such player. 

San Siro to Get New Turf

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After years of constant complaint about the stadium's pitch surface, the San Siro is set for a new artificial turf. The stadium will have a state-of-the-art hybrid-synthetic surface installed during the summer.

The stadium's tenants—AC Milan and Inter Milan—will have a revolutionary hybrid pitch to play on when all is said and done. The surface will allow real grass to grow over a synthetic surface.

The stadium's current pitch has been relayed multiple times since the stadium was renovated for the 1990 World Cup. The combination of two clubs playing at the stadium and the lack of sunlight that enters the San Siro has prevented grass from growing regularly. 

Both Milan and Inter have given the go-ahead for the project, and work will begin in June, making the stadium available for play in August.

Fabio Capello to Milan?

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Fabio Capello may be set to takeover Milan for the third time in his coaching career. The Italian is rumored to be interested in returning to Italy as a club coach. 

Despite the Rossoneri winning the Scudetto last term, being second currently and reaching the Champions League quarterfinals this season, owner Silvio Berlusconi has been unhappy with the club's style. 

Add in Capello's past success with Milan, Roma, Juventus and Real Madrid, and it may be only a matter of time before the Italian is back in charge of the Rossoneri. 

Aquilani Back to Liverpool

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Last week, I reported on Riccardo Montolivo's possible deal with Milan. That possible deal could be the reason the club will allow on-loan midfielder Alberto Aquilani to return to Liverpool. 

Aquilani has started only 17 times this season, but he's come off the bench in several of the club's most recent games. But the Italian's form and injury problems have turned the Rossoneri off Aquilani's permanent signature. The club may hold Aquilani out of the team's remaining games so they don't trigger the buy-clause that was inserted into Milan's agreement with Liverpool. 

This may be vice president Adriano Galliani's master plan to negotiate a knockdown price for the midfielder. If not, Liverpool will have yet another under-performing, large wage earner on their books. 

Bakaye Traore

Milan has signed AS Nancy midfielder Bakaye Traore, according to reports. Traore will be a free agent in the summer and the move will allow Milan to add to the squad without dipping into their transfer budget. Traore's free-agent status represents a cost-effective solution to replacing the club's aging midfield.

Several top clubs in Europe have shown interest in Traore, who is a Mali international, but it appears Milan has beaten them to the player's signature. However, neither the clubs nor the player's representatives have denied the deal. 

(Don't blink or you'll miss Traore's goal in Nancy's win over Paris Saint-Germain.)

 

Drew Farmer is a writer and Genoa club correspondent for ForzaItalianFootball.com, and has been featured on MajorLeagueSoccerTalk.com and EPLTalk.com. Follow him on Twitter @calciofarmer.