Home » CorSera: Allegri hoping for a striker in January as Gimenez and Nkunku struggle
Santiago Gimenez of AC Milan allegri

CorSera: Allegri hoping for a striker in January as Gimenez and Nkunku struggle

Photos: Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images

Santiago Gimenez remains without a goal in the league so far, and Massimiliano Allegri is hoping for a striker in January.

He certainly has no shortage of commitment and sacrifice, but the main task of a centre-forward is to score, and so far Gimenez has only done so once in the Coppa Italia. In Serie A, however, the Mexican has yet to score after eight games, and this is becoming a significant problem.


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Another striker needed?

This morning’s edition of Corriere della Sera (via MilanNews) writes that Rafael Leao has found his feet in recent matches, scoring three goals in his last three league games. Gimenez, however, continues to struggle and is without a goal in the league.

Christopher Nkunku, like the Mexican, has only scored once in the Coppa Italia so far, while he too is yet to score in Serie A. The Frenchman has played less than the Mexican, but if two out of four strikers are still scoreless in the league at the end of October, it’s a significant problem for Milan.

Gimenez and Nkunku Milan
Photos by AC Milan

It’s clear that if things continue as they are, Allegri expects a reinforcement in the attacking department during the next winter transfer window , a key player to stay ahead in the Scudetto race.

While it’s true that the crucial part of the season begins in March, it’s now that the foundations are laid to reach a good position in January and February.

Tags AC Milan Santiago Gimenez

13 Comments

  1. call me crazy but allegri needs to have a plan b from the 3-5-2 like this case – a 4-3-3 defending with salad as RW de winter /tomori at RB . since this isnt cutting it . not against fiorentina neither pisa – (fiorentina was a lucky win but we shouldnt have lost) this formation we have right now works like a dream when we have rabiot pulisic etc – not with a 2 left wingers and a goal less striker as the 2 occupying striker roles. against atalanta id like to see leao giminez salad at attack and then for subs nkunku leao salad at 60th minute all whilst having a very compact defnding style so salad and leao kinda have to trackback – thats just my thinking ofc allegri must know more than me

    1. 100% agree, I think the 4-3-3 would align better with the current squad. It’s too easy to defend against the main striker at the moment, which even though he isnt world class, makes Santi look worse than what he actually is. With a front 3, more space will open up in the attacking 3rd and create more goal scoring opportunities.

      Would also sit Ricci as the 6 while Rabbiot is injured and let Modric cook further up the pitch

    2. I think you’re right. The 3-5-2 relies on strikers who can score a goal out of thin air. Gimenez is not that guy. He needs clear cut chances. That’s why I’ve been wondering why Allegri subs him for Nknunku when we’re down, instead of playing Leao, Nknunku and Gimenez when we need to push. You’ll see, the more support Gimenez has, the more he’ll score.

      1. He missed most big chances in Serie A. What you wrote is not the reality. He got clear cut chances and he missed ALL OF THEM. He is top of the chart for most missed.

    3. Are you people serious? We conceded 2 goals with 3 defenders at the back, against both newly promoted sides. Your idea is that a team like that should go to 2 central defenders? Ok.

      1. correct me if im wrong – but both goals were avoidable and unfortunate ? a hand ball and a clear foul 2 goals for pisa . if we scored earlier 3 goals we would of won

        1. If we scored 200 goals every game we would win every game forever? Is this the argument? C’mon. If you concede against a relegation team with 5 defenders and your defenders are spectating and allowing a bad striker to score a goal – you aren’t ready for 4 man defense.

          1. i get what your saying , but both goals were still unfortunate . you look at the napoli game we maybe shouldnt of conceded at all – and still did really well with 10 men – the issue is the strikers – it took athekame to score a wierd goal to get us a point

      2. Correct, we have conceded 2 goals in each of our games against newly promoted sides. Which means it’s not a question of numbers at the back, it’s a question of mentality. We have conceded a combined 3 goals in the other 6 matches we’ve played in Seria A.

  2. 42+32 million…combine their wages for Nkunku and Gimenez…should have just signed Osimhen at that cost and went for the sure thing…

  3. I don’t know if I’m ready to give up on Nkunku quite yet – the man hasn’t had the consistent run of games Santi has. Santi works as a focal point for Leao to bounce around but Nkunku isn’t quite that. He’s more of a second striker.

    But if Max is willing to start Alexis behind Leao, then he should try Nkunku with Leao at this point.

    1. Nkunku has quality, the issue is that they make Gimenez expendable and a surplus to requirements, in itself that is an admission he isn’t fit for the level needed. His resale value plunges in that scenario. I think Gimenez can score as well. We will see in due time. I believe Nkunku is better off as a reference point and has to get many touches to be effective. They won’t go to hin instead of Leao so we won’t ever get the best of him.

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