Nkunku Transfer Listed by Milan as Roma Eyes Soule Swap

Ruben Amorim has wasted no time putting his stamp on Milan – and the first major casualty of his reshuffle is a surprise. Christopher Nkunku has been placed on the transfer list, just days before the summer window slams shut.

The 28-year-old French forward, once a pre-season favourite at Milanello, now finds himself training on the fringes of the first team. The early buzz around him has evaporated. Amorim has handed the club hierarchy an updated list of players deemed expendable, and Nkunku’s name is on it.

That decision has not gone unnoticed.

Roma, always alert to opportunities in the domestic market, have immediately moved into position. According to Calcio Mercato, the capital club have been tracking Nkunku’s situation closely, sensing a rare chance to land a player they have admired for some time.

Their interest is nothing new.

During the January window, Giallorossi boss Gian Piero Gasperini identified Nkunku as the ideal tactical fit for his system, especially on the left side of the attack. He pushed hard. Roma pushed with him. But the resistance from both the player and Milan’s hierarchy was absolute. The door stayed shut.

That stance has now cracked open.

Despite that failed winter move, Roma’s view of Nkunku has not shifted. If anything, his sudden availability has sharpened their focus. With their pursuit of Rodrigo Mora stalling, sporting director Tony D’Amico is preparing a renewed push to finally bring Nkunku to the Olimpico.

And this time, the deal on the table looks very different.

Soule as the key to unlock the deal

Asromalive report that a fascinating scenario is taking shape: a potential swap deal involving Argentine attacker Soule as a direct makeweight.

For Milan, the logic is obvious. Soule has been high on their shortlist as they search for a creative presence in attacking midfield. He fits the profile Amorim wants between the lines. Slotting him into a straight exchange for Nkunku would instantly address a key tactical need.

For Roma, Soule is the price of ambition.

Letting go of a talented Argentine prospect is no small decision, but it could be the sacrifice required to finally secure Gasperini’s long-time target. The move would hand both coaches the attacking piece they have been pushing for: Nkunku to refine Roma’s left-sided threat, Soule to energise Milan’s central creativity.

On paper, the numbers line up neatly.

Both clubs are said to value their respective forwards in a similar range, around €35m to €40m. That alignment removes one of the usual stumbling blocks in high-profile swaps. A straight valuation match means fewer arguments over fees and more focus on structure.

The real problem lies elsewhere.

Wages threaten to derail a clean swap

Nkunku’s salary is the sticking point.

Soule currently earns just over half of the Frenchman’s wage package. That gap creates a financial imbalance that neither club can ignore. Any agreement would need to address not only the transfer valuations but also how to reconcile those very different pay scales.

Roma would have to decide whether they are prepared to absorb Nkunku’s higher wages or push for a renegotiation. Milan, for their part, must work out how to fit Soule into their wage structure without creating internal tension or requiring a significant uplift that erodes the financial benefit of the swap.

Time is not on anyone’s side.

With the transfer deadline rapidly approaching, both clubs face a race against the clock to construct a deal intricate enough to satisfy everyone involved: Milan, Roma, Nkunku, Soule, and their respective entourages.

The framework is there. The tactical fit is clear. The valuations are aligned.

Now it comes down to whether Serie A’s two heavyweights can bend the numbers – and their wage structures – enough to turn a bold idea into one of the window’s defining moves.