Milan Transfer News and Rumours Tracker: Week of October 20

Maybe there is a good reason why AC Milan dropped their interest in Adel Taarabt. Harry Redknapp, speaking after his QPR team lost 3-2 to Liverpool, made sure he was absolutely clear about Taarabt, who missed yet another game.

"He’s not injured," said Redknapp, per Matt Law of The Telegraph. "He’s not fit. He’s not fit to play football, unfortunately. He played in a reserve game the other day and I could have run about more than he did."

Apparently the 25-year-old is overweight and showing no desire to play for his boss. Of course, Taarabt played the second half of last season on loan at Milan, and he loved it there, according to Sky Sport Italia (h/t Martin Carter of Forza Italian Football). But the love wasn't exactly mutual.

Let's take a look at this week's rumours.

—UPDATED ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20—

No New Offer for Ignazio Abate Yet

Felice Calabro'/Associated Press

Ignazio Abate had yet another standout game for Milan in a 3-1 win over Hellas Verona. His cross forced an early own goal, and it could have been his fifth assist in seven Serie A matches.

Maybe he is trying to prove a point in the last year of his contract. His deal with Milan expires next summer, and last month Abate told Il Giorno (h/t Forza Italian Football's Scott Orkney) that talks had begun.

But last week his agent Mino Raiola told Calciomercato.com (h/t Football Italia) that no new offer is currently on the table. "The lad is relaxed," Raoila said. "There is still time, as there are eight months to go and we are in no rush to conclude a deal with Milan."

Adel Taarabt 'Overweight' at QPR

Claudio Villa/Getty Images

Then there is the case of Taarabt, who is a bit more difficult to solve.

The 25-year-old has apparently lost his appetite to play, making just three appearances so far this season with QPR.

His coach Harry Redknapp said on Sunday that he is overweight, but Taarabt spoke up on Monday to protect his reputation.

During an interview with the Daily Mail's Neil Ashton, Taarabt showed his figure to prove he is indeed in good shape. He also complained about the lack of intensity during training sessions and added that the "problem is we don’t have any plan in the game, we don’t know how to press as a team."

Motivation wasn't a problem for Taarabt while he was playing for Milan, where he scored four goals in 14 Serie A matches. He admitted it was hard to come back so soon. "I had a taste of something different last year, playing in the Champions League at a big club,” said Taarabt, per the London Evening Standard's Giuseppe Muro. “That is why I wanted to move."

But he never got the transfer. Redknapp revealed that no particular club—not even Milan—was interested in the player.