Milan eye Toon’s Wilson

AC MILAN want to sign Newcastle striker Callum Wilson on a permanent deal this month. Mail Sport understands the Serie A club are interested in taking the England star to Italy and he would be open to talks, if an offer was accepted. Milan have seen a loan approach for Wilson from Atletico Madrid rejected by Newcastle, who insist he will not be leaving St James’ Park in January. However, were Milan to present a permanent package, at the right price, then there could yet be movement. Wilson, 31, has 18 months to run on his contract and any sizeable offer would leave Newcastle with a big decision to make. Toon boss Eddie Howe would be determined to keep his No 9, who is close to making a return from a four-week calf injury layoff. But after chief executive Darren Eales admitted this month that ‘every player has their price’, it could be that Newcastle are forced to scramble for a replacement if Wilson were to go. RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko has been tracked for some time, but his £42million release clause does not kick in until the summer. Meanwhile, we can reveal that Newcastle rejected both a loan and permanent approach from Bayern Munich for Kieran Trippier over the weekend. The club stance remains that he will not be sold.

Again, though, the player’s openness to the move and the possibility of a big offer from Bayern could still change the situation. As revealed by Mail Sport last week, Joelinton will have thigh surgery on Tuesday and that will almost certainly see him miss the rest of the season. That could mean he has played his last game for the club with no progress on his contract impasse. The Brazilian is asking for wages the club aren’t prepared to pay and there appears no desire from the player’s camp to reach a compromise. Meanwhile, sources have played down reports of Newcastle reaching an agreement with Saudi club Al Shabab over the sale of Miguel Almiron.