Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic has been linked to Milan on-and-off-again for the last year, but could a loan move finally materialize in 2021?
Luka Jovic seems determined to succeed at Real Madrid after a rocky start to his career with the La Liga giants. He joined Los Blancos from Eintracht Frankfurt in a big-money transfer before the 2019-2020 season, and while he had a couple of goals and assists, he barely played for the first team due to Karim Benzema’s Player-of-the-Year caliber dominance.
This summer, Jovic was close to getting loaned to Milan, but Real Madrid ultimately decided to keep him. He’s received just 149 minutes in La Liga this season, with only Eder Militao and Alvaro Odriozola receiving less playing time among regular first-team players.
Now, the Milan links are back. Mirko Calemme of AS reports that Milan are considering signing Luka Jovic from Real Madrid on loan in the January transfer window and including an option to buy in the six-month loan deal. They already have another highly-regarded Madrid forward on loan in Brahim Diaz, who is contributing well in both Serie A and the Europa League. Milan may want to add an option to buy to his deal, but Real would do well to continue resisting those attempts.
As for Jovic, again, he’s been on Milan’s radar for quite some time, so this isn’t surprising. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been incredible for the Rossoneri this season as one of Italian football’s leading scorers, but he is currently out with an injury.
Real Madrid don’t start Jovic, and they have another backup striker in Mariano Diaz who is capable. But as we have seen this season, injuries can pile up. Loaning or selling Jovic is a risk, and the latter is probably not on Real’s agenda. Jovic still has long-term potential, especially since signing another potential No. 9 of the future, such as Erling Haaland, isn’t looking as likely in 2021.
Milan may have to settle on a different striker, but Madridistas should watch for how their interest in Jovic develops over the course of the next several weeks.