AC Milan has officially moved to open communication channels with Genoa with the aim of signing Belgian defender Koni De Winter, who is 23 years old, to compensate for the departure of Malick Thiaw to Newcastle United in a deal worth 40 million euros.

De Winter is considered one of the top defensive targets for the Rossoneri management, as he is highly regarded by coach Massimiliano Allegri, who has known the player since his previous stint at Juventus. This comes at a time when the management is looking to strengthen the backline, as the team currently has only three defenders in the main roster.

Despite Inter Milan's interest in acquiring the player, Milan is eager to finalize the deal quickly to avoid entering a bidding war that could complicate negotiations. The strong relationship between the two clubs, following the successful loan deal of Lorenzo Colombo from Milan to Genoa, may facilitate the negotiation process in the coming days.

This move is part of a comprehensive plan by Milan's management to strengthen the defense, as several other names are being evaluated, but De Winter is currently the top option due to his familiarity with Serie A and his ability to quickly integrate with the team.