Milan are prepared to rival West Ham United in their attempts to sign Alaves defender Guillermo Maripan, report Marca.
He formed a solid partnership with Victor Laguardia at the heart of Abelardo Fernandez's defence, although the Coach has subsequently departed the Estadio Mendizorroza.
Maripan – who is currently playing for Chile in the Copa America – is said to have a €25m release clause on a contract that has two more years to run, with Marca claiming the opening offer from the Hammers came in at €11.6m.
That offer has been rejected and whilst Alaves sporting director Sergio Fernandez insisted that they will not sell below his release clause, but it is still likely that they may negotiate down from it.
“From childhood I have always liked the Premier League – I would go there, it's a great challenge on a personal level,” Maripan is cited previously by Marca.
“This is my second season in Europe, I feel very good in Spain, but I would like to go to the Premier League, what I will decide in the future after the Copa America.”
Maripan is a compatriot of Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini while Director of Football Mario Husillos is said to have been monitoring the Spain-based defender.
The 24-year-old joined the Basque club from Universidad Catolica in Chile in 2017 with transfermarkt reporting his value at €8m.
It has been reported that Alaves are lining up Celtic defender Jozo Simunovic as an affordable replacement.
