Transfer Centre

AC Milan continue fight for CSKA Moscow's Keisuke Honda

By Matt Cotton, Reporter | 27 July 2013

AC Milan are refusing to meet CSKA Moscow's asking price for Keisuke Honda, but will continue to fight to move his transfer forward from January to this summer.

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has insisted that the club will continue their pursuit of CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda.

The Japan international has already agreed a deal to move to the San Siro in January after his current contract with the Russian outfit expires in December.

However, Milan are keen on bringing Honda this summer but are unwilling to pay the £4.3m being demanded by CSKA for the additional months' service, and are refusing to pay more than £2.5m.

"The only gift we can have [for the fans] at this moment is Honda," Galliani told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "The player wants to come to Milan, but we mustn't exaggerate. We're talking about four months here.

"We're going to go on until the final day possible to include him on our player list for the Champions League, but then we'll give up. We've made an offer and if they lower their demands, Honda will join Milan, so let's keep our fingers crossed."

Honda would be eligible to play in the Champions League should Milan sign him this summer.