Gianluca Di Marzio has once again confirmed that Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee is the man that the AC Milan management have at the top of their summer wish list.
Milan have been tipped to make a big investment in a new striker during the upcoming summer window having put one off for several windows now.
Olivier Giroud continues to be decisive on the big stage, but his contract expiring at the end of the season and talks are yet to start, given the interest in an MLS move from him and the league itself.
Then there is Luka Jovic who has been in very good form since the start of December, yet he too is on an expiring deal and there are doubts about whether he can be the long term No.9.
A number of different targets have been linked – and we analysed them in a feature published on Wednesday – while sources continue to argue about who the main target is.
Di Marzio gave a brief update regarding Milan’s plans ahead of the summer on the Sky programme ‘Calciomercato – L’Originale’ and his comments were relayed by Radio Rossonera.
“Today’s news on Milan is more about the summer attacker than the winter defender. As we have said in recent days, they have tried several players from Lenglet to Tosin, Lacroix…” he began.
“But all these players have been judged, up to now, not on the market by their clubs. And maybe Milan will try until the end.
“Regarding the attacker, however, we absolutely confirm our interest in Zirkzee, who is the first choice for the attack of the future.
“Clearly this is not the time to sit down with Bologna and negotiate, also because there is a clause. But he is definitely a player they want to make an investment in.
“The other profile is Sesko. Let’s say he’s a plan B, even if he’s a very important plan B. Milan, therefore, are focusing on the future and, if they find the right defender, they will try to sign him by February 1st.”
in my opinion, we should not invest in a defender at the moment, and go in for Buongiorno in the summer. We have got Gabbia and Kjaer, Theo (who can slot in as a CB), and Simic. Tomori and Thiaw are coming in around mid-February.
Going in for Buongiorno in the summer makes sense since he is Italian, has a strong character seeing he is captain of Torino, and he has a good potential.
Then, additionally going in for a striker early in the summer is vital since we need someone who can perform once the season starts. I like Zirkzee but cannot say that i have seen a lot of Sesko. Having someone who can hold on to the ball is key, which I think that Sesko does better.
I think you might be right there, if AC Milan could risk it and prospone the buying of the Torino captain till the summer to replace Kjear as he is Italian and solid at the same time, we could also solve the mystery at right back by shifting Kalulu back to his natural position to compete with Calabria. Thereafter AC Milan would the Torino captain, Gabbia, Tomori, Thiaw and Simic as First Team Center Backs.
I choose Joshua because he costs less, plus I feel he will need less time to adjust to the team and the league. Also I feel he is a bit more intelligent in attacking situations always thinking about how to create a goal scoring situation from either an assist or a smart reading of the defensive ability of the defender and planning a direct route to goal without wasting too much time thinking about it.
Giroud has better stats than Zirkzee… Not sure if we could call that an upgrade