AC Milan are interested in signing Josip Ilicic from Atalanta with Paolo Maldini eyeing a potential low-cost deal, according to a report.

La Gazzetta dello Sport (via MilanLive) reports that 33-year-old is now on the sidelines of the Atalanta project, despite continuing to train in with the rest of his team-mates in preseason. The player has understood that he is no longer in their plans and he was actually offered to Milan months ago, and now the interest is mutual

Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara are considering him as more of a cut-price signing for the right wing rather than as the new playmaker. La Dea are awaiting offers, but in late summer there could be just one solution.

Ilicic has a contract with Atalanta until 2023 and receives a net salary of €2.1m per season, which is why – combined with doubts about his age and physical condition – the interest of Milan and also of Lazio is not serious at the moment.

With the passage of time, the Bergamo club could be forced to let him leave on loan in August, either to Milan or to another Serie A club.

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