Alberto Aquilani's £6 million move from Liverpool to AC Milan could be halted by loophole
Liverpool's hopes of offloading Alberto Aquilani this summer have been plunged into doubt after AC Milan cooled on a permanent deal for the on-loan midfielder.
Loophole: Liverpool's hopes of selling Alberto Aquilani, right, to AC MIlan may flounder on a technicality Photo: AP
10:00PM BST 24 Apr 2012
Aquilani is on a season's loan at San Siro, with the terms of his agreement stating if he plays 25 games he will complete a £6 million transfer.
However, it has emerged substitute appearances for the Seria A club count as only half a game, meaning Aquilani is three games short of the required number of starts.
The Italians are now considering leaving the player on the sidelines for the rest of the season to ensure he does not fill the necessary quota required to complete the move.
The bizarre agreement — arranged by former director of football Damien Comolli — is set to become a fresh source of frustration for Liverpool as they look to raise transfer funds.
Aquilani cost £20 million in 2009 and Liverpool have been trying to sell him for the last two years, despite the massive loss they will have to accept.
Now the 27 year-old faces the prospect of returning to Merseyside in the summer.
Aquilani's agent, Franco Zavaglia, admitted he was unsure where Aquilani's future lies.
"I don't know if Milan wants to redeem him, we still need to wait and see," he said.
Selling on-loan players is essential to the club to ease the wage bill and raise finances, but they face a similar dilemma with Joe Cole at French club Lille.
Cole's wages are being paid partially by Liverpool this season and there is little interest in prolonging a loan arrangement as the Merseysiders want to sell.
Cole, however, has stated he would willingly extend his loan period for an extra season. Given his £130,000-a-week salary and the absence of bids, Liverpool may have no choice but to agree another temporary arrangement for both Cole and Aquilani.
Meanwhile, captain Steven Gerrard is not an injury concern for next week's FA Cup final. Gerrard missed last week's home defeat to West Bromwich Albion as a precaution because of a slight hamstring strain, but he is training as normal with the first team.
Manager Kenny Dalglish may decide to keep his captain back until Wembley rather than risk him against Norwich at the weekend.
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