Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea are tracking AC Milan defender Koni De Winter, with the Belgian emerging as one of Serie A’s most closely watched young players.
The 24-year-old has impressed in recent matches as part of Milan’s three-man defence, prompting interest from several Premier League clubs. Scouts from Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United and Brentford have also been present to assess his performances.
One source said: “Koni De Winter is developing really well at Milan and there’s a lot of Premier League interest. He’s a versatile talent, but he’s now really making a name for himself as one of Milan’s three central defenders.”
De Winter only joined Milan last season and is not thought to be pushing for a move. However, his progress is expected to make him a player to monitor during upcoming transfer windows.
Milan have shown improvement under Ruben Amorim, despite some inconsistent displays, including disappointing performances in the Europa League. De Winter is understood to have benefited from the manager’s work with the side.
Manchester United and Chelsea are particularly active in their pursuit of defensive options and have also watched Como’s Jacobo Ramon, another emerging Serie A talent.
Neither club is necessarily expected to make De Winter an immediate priority, but he is likely to feature in discussions as Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea consider defensive reinforcements for January and next summer.
Regular first-team football may be an important consideration for the Belgian, which could leave him open to approaches from clubs such as Newcastle and Leeds rather than moving straight to one of the Premier League’s biggest sides.
