Milan’s pursuit of a replacement for Liverpool-bound forward Mario Balotelli could lead them to Brazil, according to reports.
La Gazzetta dello Sport and various other Italian newspapers, as noted by Football Italia, have drawn up a shortlist of options who are believed to be under consideration by Vice-President and C.E.O. Adriano Galliani.
Monaco’s Radamel Falcao, Manchester City’s Álvaro Negredo and Roma’s Mattia Destro are at the top of the names mentioned, but it is also suggested that a trio of Brasileirão based attackers may be in contention.
Fred, Jô and Leandro Damião have all been paired with Milan, but their chances of making the switch seemingly differ.
The former two, who are owned by Fluminense and Atlético Mineiro respectively, are reported to have been offered to the Rossoneri, though whether they are wanted remains to be seen. The duo had a limited impact at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, while Fred has netted just once in the Brasileirão this term and Jô is yet score.
Both would likely only be considered by Galliani as a last resort, but Damião is a more serious option.
The 25 year-old has only scored one goal in seven appearances for Santos since signing from Internacional for a reported fee of €13 million in December, but still has a reasonable reputation in Europe due to his time with the Colorado, where he won the 2010 Copa Libertadores, 2011 Recopa Sudamericana and three Campeonato Gaúcho titles.
If Galliani is keen to pursue a deal, the apparently good recent relations between him and Santos – Robinho was loaned to the Santástico earlier this month – could be key.