Milan target Yoro and Balde after Leao sale to Galatasaray
Quick summary
AC Milan are reportedly lining up moves for Lille defender Leny Yoro and Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde after selling Rafael Leao to Galatasaray.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceMilan are still hoping to add to their centre-back and wing-back departments before the close of the summer transfer window, and the latest reports in Italy claim that Manchester United’s Leny Yoro and Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde could be among the potential options.
Report: Yoro and Balde options for Milan in final week of transfer window Milan have officially sold star attacker Leao to Galatasaray for a fixed fee of €38m plus bonuses, confirmed on Sunday morning, but still have plenty of business to do in terms of incomings and outgoings before the transfer deadline on September 1.
Official: Rafael Leao holds up his Galatasaray shirt after joining the club in a permanent transfer from Milan (@Galatasaray via Instagram) Santiago Gimenez is on the verge of joining Porto, whilst Youssouf Fofana and Fikayo Tomori are still on the lookout for new clubs after learning that they will not be involved with Ruben Amorim’s squad this season.
Milan could still potentially bring players in in defensive and wide areas according to reports from Calciomercato.com .
LEEDS, ENGLAND – JANUARY 04: Leny Yoro of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Manchester United at Elland Road on January 04, 2026 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images) There have been suggestions on Sunday that Manchester United centre-back Yoro could potentially be an option for the Rossoneri. He is well known to head coach Ruben Amorim from their time together at Old Trafford, and is represented by super agent Jorge Mendes, who has been involved in all three of Milan’s biggest incoming transfers this summer: Those of Goncalo Ramos, Diego Moreira and Mario Gila.
According to reports from Calciomercato, Yoro is valued in the region of €50m.
Goncalo Inacio, also valued in the region of €40m-€50m remains an option as well.
BARCELONA, SPAIN – AUGUST 27: Alejandro Balde of Barcelona during the warm up before the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club at Spotify Camp Nou on August 27, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) The same report claims that Barcelona’s Balde could be an option for the Rossoneri at left wing-back, who is, again, valued between €40m-€50m. Sunday’s report suggests that Manchester City’s Rayan Ait-Nouri has also been proposed.
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What happened
AC Milan are reshaping their squad after offloading Portuguese forward Rafael Leao to Turkish giants Galatasaray. With the funds generated, the Rossoneri have set their sights on reinforcing defensively, with Lille centre-back Leny Yoro and Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde both reportedly on their radar. Yoro, a highly-rated young French defender, and Balde, an attacking full-back, would represent significant statements of intent as Milan look to rebalance following Leao's departure.
Chance analysis
Milan appear to be pivoting from an attack-led identity toward defensive youth investment, a notable strategic shift for a club that has long relied on Leao's flair on the left flank. Targeting Yoro and Balde signals a clear preference for high-upside, technically gifted defenders capable of building from the back. The Leao-to-Galatasaray move, if confirmed, would be one of the more surprising cross-league transfers of the window, and Milan's next steps will reveal whether they view this as a reset or a genuine step backward.
Milan lose a key attacking outlet in Leao but aim to reinvest in a younger, defense-first core around Yoro and Balde.