Gonzalo Higuain agrees to join AC Milan on season-long loan

Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain will join AC Milan on a season-long loan deal, according to Sky Sports. Maurizio Sarri was reported to be keen on bringing Higuain to Chelsea but the striker expressed his desire to stay in Italy. Milan will also have the option to buy him on a permanent basis for £32m after the completion of his loan spell.

Higuain’s agent, Nicolas, who also happens to be his brother, had a meeting with representatives from the club last night to thrash out the terms of the deal and the clubs will meet later today to finalise proceedings. Milan will have to cough up around £16m for the loan move while Leonardo Bonucci, who joined the club only last summer, will move the other way. Promising defender Mattia Caldara is also a part of the deal and will join Milan.

Higuain enjoyed immense success during his time with Juventus, netting 40 times in 76 Serie A appearances. However, the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid means the Argentine is unlikely to garner much first-team football.

The 30-year-old ended as Juventus’ top-scorer two seasons running, having bagged 32 and 23 goals respectively, and will be a major upgrade on Milan’s current attacker – Patrick Cutrone and Andre Silva.

Milan have been pretty active in the market thus far, picking up the likes of Ivan Strinic, Nikola Kalinic, Fabio Borini and Pepe Reina as they look to improve on their sixth-place finish last time around. With a whole host of new names, they will be looking to push the likes of Juventus and Roma this time around and challenge for a top-four spot, if not the title itself.

The Italian club have also been linked with the Adrien Rabiot, but a concrete offer has not yet been made.