Has Luis Muriel spurned Milan for Fiorentina?

It looked as if AC Milan was going to have a new striker at the club in January, but those plans might have been dashed.

Luis Muriel has reportedly refused to head to Milan, despite a deal being worked out between Sevilla and Milan to send the Colombia striker to the San Siro.

The reports say that Muriel had already said that he was going to go to Fiorentina, and that he is unwilling to go back on his word.

Well, if it’s true that the former Sampdoria striker is unwilling to change his mind, then so be it. Muriel has been supplanted at Sevilla by curently Milan loanee André Silva, and has only scored four goals in 19 appearances this season for Sevilla, including only one goal in six La Liga games.

Would the 27 year-old striker provide depth for Milan this season? Of course. But despite the lack of depth at striker, Milan have more pressing needs, like the midfield and left wing, that need to be addressed in the January transfer window.

Milan can always find another striker to take on loan in the window, and honestly, all of the rumors saying that Muriel would be headed to Milan might have all been a ruse to get Fiorentina to up their bid or personal terms with Muriel. Wouldn’t be the first time that an agent leaked “rumors” to the press to try and drive up the price of a transfer or to get his client a better deal.

So we’ll wait and see what actually happens, but with Gonzalo Higuain and Patrick Cutrone, Milan are already set at striker. The club just needs someone to pass them the ball, not someone else to compete for playing time up top. Even if Higuain leaves, would Muriel be an upgrade over Cutrone? Of course not. Milan can use their resources to get someone else.