Galatasaray have moved for Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli, submitting a €45m offer for the Brazilian, according to Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany.
The development lands squarely on Milan, where Rafael Leão's future had been one of the late threads of the window. Galatasaray had been linked with a swoop for the Portuguese in the closing days, but Martinelli now looks like their priority target, which points to Leão staying put.
Plettenberg reports the Turkish club recently tabled the €45m bid to prise Martinelli away from Arsenal. That leaves no room in Galatasaray's plans for the Milan winger, at least on the current reading.
The consequence for Leão is another year at Milanello. His contract runs to 2028, so next summer shapes as the more natural exit point: 12 months from expiry, he would command a lower fee, which makes any sale easier for both club and buyer.
The frustration for the management is elsewhere. Milan need outgoings to open up squad space and raise funds for reinforcements, and every saga that drags without resolution narrows the window to do that business. A Leão sale would have moved a large fee and a large wage off the books in one stroke.
With Galatasaray looking elsewhere, the decision on where the Leão situation goes next sits with Milan and whatever late interest the market throws up.