Catania have said that AC Milan have only until January 31 to complete the signing of their player Maxi Lopez. The future of Maxi Lopez has come under intense speculation in recent weeks after it is thought that AC Milan had showed an interest in the player.

This comes after AC Milan’s attempts to sign Carlos Tevez from Manchester City looks like going nowhere. AC Milan are interested in taking Carlos Tevez only on a loan deal, which may become permanent in the summer. However, Manchester City are interested in selling him permanently and there are also a number of disparities in terms of the transfer fee proposed between the two clubs.

As a result, it has been thought that AC Milan were looking to move on from the prospect of signing Carlos Tevez. A number of players have been mooted to replace the injured Antonio Cassano, and it seems that Catania player Maxi Lopez has emerged as a top target for AC Milan. However, the club’s sporting director Pietro Lo Monaco has said that AC Milan have only up to January 31 in order to seal the signing of the player.

The two clubs are varying a lot in terms of the transfer fee, and the whole transfer is still shrouded in mystery, as AC Milan prepared to start their winter friendlies.

“Milan have until December 31 [to sign him], if there is not any news by then, we will negotiate him with the other clubs who have tabled offers. Milan are the only club Lopez could join on loan. If he joins another side, it will be on a permanent basis. There is interest from some foreign clubs and also from another Italian team. I think that, in the end, Maxi will join a club who match his value,” Lo Monaco told Sky Sport Italia when asked about the future of Maxi Lopez.