Boateng To Milan Nearly a Done Deal

AC Milan look set to make off big in the coming days, as a deal for Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng seems to be all but finalized.

Goal.com is reporting that Italian side Genoa CFC are prepared to pay just under $8 million US for the Ghanaian international and immediately loan him to league rivals Milan for the 2010/2011 season.

Milan would have the option to buy next summer.

The move would make Boateng the third Genoa player to arrive this summer. The club have already bought Greek defender Sokratis and brought in goalkeeper Marco Amelia on loan.

The deal is reportedly set to be completed on Monday at the Milanello, as the club prepare for two more preseason matches with Juventus and Barcelona before beginning the Serie A campaign on August 29th against Lecce.

Boateng has played for several clubs since becoming a full time senior player in 2004, when he was only 17. Born in Germany, the 23 year old joined Herta Berlin's academy in 1994, when he was seven. Ten years later, Boateng made his senior debut for Hertha Berlin II, who were in the then German third division. He made his first appearance for the first team in 2005.

In 2007, Boateng moved to Tottenham Hotspur. He was loaned back to Germany in 2009, to Borussia Dortmund. Upon his return to White Hart Lane, he signed with English club Portsmouth. He made 22 league appearances in this past campaign for Portsmouth, who were relegated to the Championship with only eighteen points (ten were subtracted due to financial issues, though they still would have finished last on twenty eight). He scored three goals in the midfield.

After eight years in the German youth national team system, Boateng finally decided to switch allegiances and play for Ghana (whom offered him a chance to play in the 2006 FIFA World Cup). Having never made a senior team appearance for Germany, the switch was approved by FIFA and he earned his first cap in 2010. At the World Cup, he scored the crucial opening goal in a 2-1 extra time victory over the United States of America in the Round of 16.

Milan are hoping the talented young player will increase season ticket sales, as well as regain the confidence of an angry fan base. Usually known for its league leading attendance, totals have dipped recently for Milan, falling to third in attendance behind Inter and Napoli last season. Milan gated a total of only 818 thousand last season. Though that number was second highest total behind Inter, compare that to the over 1.1 million in 2008/2009.

Season ticket sales have hit only sixteen thousand thus far this season compared to twenty seven thousand at this point last season.