AC Milan eager to keep Wolfsburg's Aster Vranckx beyond this season
AC Milan are keen extend Aster Vranckx's stay at the San Siro despite him not having a regular spot in the team this season.
The Rossoneri are struggling domestically this season, as they find themselves in fourth place, coming off the back of last season's Scudetto-winning campaign. The team has been tainted with injuries, prompting an inconsistent run of form that has seen them record just four league wins so far in 2023.
Even though the team has been filled with injuries, Belgian midfielder Vranckx has failed to nail down a starting spot in Stefano Pioli's side, having only made just eight appearances for Milan this season, and the only start out of the eight games came in the Coppa Italia, as the Rossoneri fell to a 1-0 loss to Torino in extra-time.
However, Pioli has seemingly been impressed by the 20-year-old, as Nicolo Schira is reporting that Milan would like to keep him from Wolfsburg beyond this season.
The journalist adds that Milan do not want to pay his €12 million option to buy from the German side, yet are willing to offer an extension of a loan for another season.
It remains to be seen whether Milan will push ahead with an offer for another loan, or else will ask for a discounted price for Vranckx, who hasn't featured in a game for the Serie A outfit since the 2-2 draw against Lecce back in January, where he came on for just four minutes.
His lack of playing time might not come as that much of a surprise though, as the Rossoneri are fairly well-stocked in the heart of midfielder, with the likes of Sandro Tonali and Ismael Bennacer being undroppable, while Vranckx has to compete with Tommaso Pobega, Rade Krunic, and Tiemou Bakayoko for a rotational spot.
In the few games that he has played, the Belgian has seemed confident and assured in midfield, and the club is reportedly impressed by his quality and potential, yet are still assessing the possibility of extending his stay.
The Rossoneri have to strengthen across various areas of the pitch next summer, with a number of key players also being touted with possible moves away, making these next few months crucial in terms of them evaluating their options.
With Milan still in the UEFA Champions League, and well and truly in the race for European football for next season, Vranckx might have a more prominent role in the team towards the latter stages of the season.
However, at the age of 20, he might look elsewhere for more playing time, especially given how highly rated he is in Belgium and Germany, and the fact that he might want to make the step up to the senior national team in the coming future.
