AC Milan ships Niang to Torino for reported €20M

M'Baye Niang's inconsistent spell at AC Milan came to an end Thursday, with Torino announcing it has signed the 22-year-old on loan with an obligation to buy.

I Granata will pay as much as €20 million for the Frenchman, according to Sky Sport Italia's Gianluca Di Marzio, once the deal becomes permanent.

Niang's arrival marks a positive conclusion to the club's months-long chase for the SM Caen product. Manager Sinisa Mihajlovic has a good rapport with Niang, whom he coached during his 10 months in charge of the Rossoneri.

Naturally a centre-forward, Niang can also play on the wings. His ability to take on defenders and run into channels makes him a difficult player to mark, but his decision-making in the final third often leaves a lot to be desired.

He cost Milan just €3 million to acquire from Caen in 2012. He scored just 12 goals in 79 appearances for Milan over the next five years.

Three loan moves - to Montpellier, Genoa, and Watford - failed to give his career the necessary kick-start. There were also several off-field transgressions, including the time French police allegedly caught him using former Milan teammate Bakaye Traore's licence.

But the player's talent still has time to blossom. At his best, Niang can dribble his way out of tight corners and track back.

Those kinds of performances, however, have so far been scarce.