New Delhi: In a cruel twist of fate, RB Leipzig’s proposed loan move for Swiss striker Noah Okafor from AC Milan has been called off following medical tests that revealed the player would not be available for immediate action. The 24-year-old forward, who was set to join the Bundesliga side on loan with an option to buy for €25 million, will now return to Milan. The deal seemed imminent as Okafor left Milan to undergo medical examinations with Leipzig on Monday.
However, Sky Sports Germany reported that during these tests, it became apparent that Okafor’s recovery from a calf injury would delay his availability for Leipzig. Consequently, the Bundesliga outfit opted to cancel the transfer. The Swiss forward has missed the last three games due to the injury and has only played 22 minutes of football in Milan’s last eight league games, raising concerns for his fitness.
🚨🚫 RB Leipzig have cancelled the transfer of Noah Okafor from AC Milan after medical tests in the last 24h.
RB Leipzig staff didn’t approve the medical and he’s gonna leave Germany soon to go back to Milano, as @philipphinze24 reports. pic.twitter.com/wa43luxqmx
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 14, 2025
This development is undoubtedly a blow to Okafor, who was looking for a fresh start to reignite his career after a difficult spell in Serie A. The Swiss international has shown flashes of potential during his time in Austria and Italy but has yet to consistently deliver on the big stage. He has only played 550 minutes of football this season, contributing to just one goal and two assists this season.
Since moving to the Italian capital in the summer of the previous season, Okafor hasn’t enjoyed the best time at the club and has failed to establish himself as a regular starter. Constantly recurring injuries have hampered his time in Milan and restricted him to just over 1000 minutes of action during the entire 2023/24 season where he scored six and assisted three in 36 appearances.
Implications for AC Milan
Okafor’s return to Milan raises questions about his future at the Serie A club. Signed from RB Salzburg last summer, the forward has struggled to make a significant impact at San Siro. His inability to establish himself in Milan’s attacking hierarchy has reportedly prompted the club to explore options for offloading him, at least temporarily. The addition of Tammy Abraham and Alvaro Morata last summer seemed to have pushed Okafor even further down the pecking order.
With the transfer window still open, it remains to be seen whether Okafor can secure a move elsewhere or reintegrate into Milan’s plans for the season. For now, he will focus on his recovery and return to match fitness, hoping to capitalize on future opportunities. However, it seems likely that the club would be looking at arranging another to loan the 24-year-old out of the club.
AC Milan have held formal talks with Man Utd over the January signing of Marcus Rashford, according to reports in Italy 🇮🇹🔴⚫️ pic.twitter.com/fNQYut0dXq
— LiveScore (@livescore) January 14, 2025
The cancellation of this transfer could also affect Milan’s pursuit of reinforcements in the forward line. The Rossoneri have been linked with a potential move for Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford, but Okafor’s return could complicate their financial maneuvering and squad planning for the rest of the season. Rashford is said to be on high wages at Manchester United and would command a similar wage in Milan as well.
The Italian club could’ve been looking to free up their wage bill by loaning Okafor out in favour of loaning Rashford in for the remainder of the season. While Milan are still expected to push through for the transfer of the England International, the collapse of Okafor’s move would’ve definitely thrown a spanner in the works for the Rossoneri and they’d be looking to get out of this pickle sooner rather than later.
The 24-year-old was already in Germany and all set to swap the Milan jersey for RB Leipzig’s before the move was called off by the officials of the Red Bull club in the last 24 hours with the striker now returning to Milan. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
