Andrew Omobamidele has been linked what would be a sensational move to Serie A, but one that follows a trend of Irish players heading to Italy for their football.
The 21-year-old, who joined Norwich City back in 2019, is subject to some reported negotiations involving seven-time European champions AC Milan.
The Rossoneri are getting their ducks in a row for the 2023/24 Serie A season and are hoping to build on their 4th place finish, in the last campaign. Manager Stefano Pioli has loaned out centre-back Matteo Gabbia to Villareal, in Spain, and looks to be shifting veteran Simon Kjaer, too.
Maxime Estève from Montpellier is an option but Pioli and the Milan scouts look keen on Omobamidele. The Leixlip native has played 56 times for Norwich since making his senior debut in 2020 and has Premier League experience, from the Canaries' 2021/22 campaign, which saw them relegated to the Championship.
The Ireland international played 35 times for Norwich, last season, but the club finished mired in mid-table. That 13th place finish means they now must look at moving on some of their good, young assets like Omobamidele.
[caption id="attachment_287239" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]Andrew Omobamidele has been linked with a move to Milan. (Credit: Sportsfile)[/caption]
Gap in bid valuation for Andrew Omobamidele
The AC Milan interest in Andrew Omobamidele was first reported by Sports Mediaset and has now been expanded on by other outlets, with talk of a gap in the values both clubs are placing on the defender.
It has been reported that Norwich City want €15 million for the Ireland star, who has six international caps, while the 19-time Serie A champions initially suggested €7m. Should a deal go through, it should be between that €10-12 million mark. Norwich have the defender contracted until June 2026 but would be open to selling him on if they can get close to their valuation, with a sell-on fee clause included.
The current Milan squad contains the likes of Olivier Giroud, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fikayo Tomori, Christian Pulisic and Divock Origi, who all have Premier League experience, as well as Rafael Leão and Mike Maignan on the books.
At present, Irish players Festy Ebesole and James Abankwah are playing in Serie A with Udinese, while Aaron Connolly and Liam Kerrigan both appeared in Serie B (second division) last season. Other young players like Kevin Zefi, Ed McJannet and Cathal Heffernan are in the underage set-ups of Italian sides.
Heffernan is set to move from Milan to Verona on a free transfer this summer, according to the Irish Examiner so may not get to link up with Omobamidele at Milanello next season. Verona finished 18th in Serie A, last season.
The last Irish player to get linked with AC Milan was midfielder Jeff Hendrick, back in 2020, when he was finishing up with Burnley. He ended up joining Newcastle United.
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Andrew Omobamidele has been linked with a move to Milan. (Credit: Sportsfile)[/caption]
