AC Milan has 'basic agreement' to sign Flamengo's Paqueta - Leonardo

After Flamengo denied AC Milan had reached a deal to sign Lucas Paqueta, Leonardo insisted there was a "basic agreement" in place.

Flamengo forward Lucas Paqueta.

AC Milan has a "basic agreement" with Flamengo to bring attacking midfielder Lucas Paqueta to San Siro, general manager Leonardo has revealed.

The Brazilian side's director of sport Carlos Noval shot down reports that Milan had agreed a €35 million deal to sign the 21-year-old in January amid suggestions Liverpool, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are also keen.

Leonardo noted that nothing is set in stone with regards to the attacking midfielder, who has been capped twice by Brazil and has scored nine goals for his boyhood club this season, but added that the two clubs have reached a deal in principle.

"We have a basic agreement with Flamengo, but the market reopens in January so we still have a little way to go before the official level," he told reporters.

RELATED | Paqueta to AC Milan not done yet – Flamengo

"Now we have to think only of the league and the Europa League and not the market. At the moment he is a Flamengo player, he still has to play some Brazilian league matches. We have to wait for January 3."

Another player that has been linked with Milan is Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who played for the club between 2010 and 2012. The Swede has recently turned 37, yet Leonardo remains a fan of the LA Galaxy striker.

"It is normal, there is a personal connection with him," he added.

"When we arrived we thought about it, even at the age of 37 he can drag a team. Today the market is closed. We have to do things calmly, we must not forget that there are some Financial Fair Play stakes. We want to build a competitive team."