AC Milan have reached an agreement with Racing Strasbourg to sign winger Diego Moreira for approximately €45 million, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The deal ends RB Leipzig‘s hopes of securing the Belgian international, despite the Bundesliga club having previously agreed personal terms with the player.
Leipzig appeared close to landing the 20-year-old when reports emerged of a verbal agreement over personal terms. However, the German club were unable to finalise terms with Strasbourg, allowing Milan to intervene and secure the player’s signature for Serie A.
The failure to complete the Moreira transfer forces Leipzig to reconsider their attacking recruitment strategy. The club had viewed the Belgian winger as a key target to bolster their options for the forthcoming campaign.
Leipzig identify El Mala as alternative
Leipzig have already identified a potential replacement in 1. FC Köln winger Said El Mala. German outlet Bild reports that the club are considering a package worth up to €60 million for the 19-year-old.
The pursuit of El Mala would represent a significant investment for Leipzig, exceeding the fee agreed for Moreira. The teenage winger has attracted attention following his breakthrough performances in the Bundesliga.
Milan’s successful hijacking of the deal demonstrates their continued ambition to recruit emerging talent from across Europe. The Italian club beat competition from Germany to secure a player who had appeared destined for the Red Bull Arena.
Moreira now appears set to move to Italy to complete medical examinations and finalise the transfer. The move would mark another significant sale for Strasbourg, who continue to develop and sell promising young players to Europe’s top leagues.
Leipzig must now act swiftly to secure El Mala or alternative targets before the transfer window closes, ensuring they enter the new season with sufficient depth in wide positions.