Reports in The Guardian back up claims from Premium Sport in Italy that Milan are continuing to pursue Leicester City striker Shinji Okazaki.

The 30-year-old Japanese international has a contract with The Foxes until 2019 but it’s believed that the rossoneri are planning a raid on the Premier League champions to replace his fellow countryman Keisuke Honda at the club. A teammate of Okazaki’s in the Japan national team, Honda has disappointed this season under new coach Vincenzo Montella having made just three appearances for the Italian giants.
 

Okazaki was one of the unsung heroes in last season’s remarkable Premier League triumph but has found himself on the cusp of the first-team this season having only made five starts for Claudio Ranieri’s men. With the arrival of Algerian frontman Islam Slimani in the summer, places in the club’s attacking department are becoming congested. 
Milan boss Montella has the comfort of knowing that the clubs new Chinese owners, who will officially take charge next month, will bring with them a sizeable war-chest to spend on January reinforcements.


Steve Mitchell @barafundler