Football
Mark Rodden 8y

Monaco's Stephan El Shaarawy eyed by 'Italian club' amid Milan return talk

Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev says negotiations with a "big Italian club" are ongoing with a view to ending Stephan El Shaarawy's time in the principality.

El Shaarawy, 23, moved to Monaco on a season-long deal in July after his past two seasons at AC Milan were seriously disrupted by injury.

The Italy international has failed to impress at Monaco, however, scoring three times in European competition but going without a goal in 15 appearances in Ligue 1.

L'Equipe says El Shaarawy's loan agreement includes an automatic purchase clause that will be triggered if the attacker play 25 games for Monaco.

He has now featured in 24 matches in all competitions and -- with his current club having bowed out of the Champions League and the Europa League in the first half of the season -- Monaco now want to offload the player.

Milan CEO Adriano Galliani claimed that Roma were keen on El Shaarawy but also said this week that the ex-Genoa forward could still end up returning to his parent club if their striker Luiz Adriano seals a move to China.

On Thursday though, Vasilyev said Monaco were involved in talks over a transfer.

"We're making progress with a big Italian club," Vasilyev told reporters. "I hope it will be finalised in the next few days because we want to find the best solution for Stephan too.

"Personally I'd like him to play in the European Championships -- he's a great player. It's not just us. There's AC Milan, the player, the club who takes him -- there are four parties involved. It's not that simple but I'm very optimistic."

Vasilyev was speaking at a news conference held to officially present new Monaco signing Vagner Love to the media.

The 31-year-old former CSKA Moscow and Corinthians striker signed an 18-month contract with the Ligue 1 side on Wednesday.

He hopes his move to France can help him add to the 20 caps he won for Brazil between 2004 and 2007.

"It's been a while since I've played for the national team," Eurosport quoted Love as saying. Being at Monaco increases my chances of getting back into the squad.

"I'm playing for a big club in a big league. If I manage to score, I'll have my chance. To do that I'll have to perform well."

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