Massimiliano Allegri and the AC Milan management want two more signings to complete the squad before the window shuts.
According to Tuttosport (via MilanNews), Igli Tare is at work to satisfy the two requests that Allegri has made to complete the squad. The coach wants a top-tier striker (the absolute priority) and a central defender, with a view to a possible permanent switch to a three-man defence.
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The targets
As for the defensive line, the signing of a new centre-back could wait until the final ten days of negotiations, looking for last-minute deals.
Milan scouts are monitoring several players: Caleb Okoli (Leicester), sporting director Tare’s protege Berat Djimsiti (though deemed unsellable by Atalanta) and youngster Ryan Flamingo (PSV), among other names under consideration.
The choice will also depend on the budget: if Milan manage to sign Rasmus Hojlund on loan with an option to buy, part of the remaining funds could be allocated to the defender.
Currently, the central defenders in the squad are Fikayo Tomori, Koni De Winter, Matteo Gabbia and Strahinja Pavlovic. Should Allegri switch to a three-man defence permanently, the need to bring another option in is evident.
Speaking of the striker, there is interest from RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund in Hojlund, but the player seems to prefer a return to Serie A, where he excelled with Atalanta in 2022-23. His agency and his father, Anders, are convinced of this, and he remains his main advisor.
Milan are ready to offer a €5m loan deal, with an option to buy between €40-45m. Confidence in bringing him back to Italy is growing.
Lucumi and Kean would have been next level…
I did prefer hojlund go to leipzig / Dortmund. Lots of good striker develop from these 2 clubs.
so Pulisic is gonna be benched? formation wont make sense long term
It’s what I’ve been saying, but some think that the attack will be Leao-Pulisic, and Gimenez and new signing Hojlund will go straight to the bench.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Well the issue is that defenders Milan have are mid. So Allegri with his philosophy of defence wins the league (which is correct) has to play 3 at the back. If he had Van Dijk I think we’d play a different formation. I still think he might change the formation to back 4 if he finds a solid back 4 out of these players, but you all know he won’t take risks. Pulisic is worth more to Milan in commercial sense because he is the best US player and that brings new US fans towards Milan, than getting a fee for him. So I doubt there is any plan to sell him unless he wants to leave.
He’s going to want to play regularly so he will push to leave. He’s in his prime and has scored 30+ goals over the last two years. Why should he stay?
Because I doubt he won’t be playing. Apart from what I already wrote about his commercial value to Redbird, he was one of the best Milan players since arriving.
If Pulisic doesn’t play, why would American fans continue to watch. I watch a lot of football including ACM before Pulisic came. If he’s not playing I’ll watch other games. I’ll also watch other games if the football is devoid of attacking play.
Could Pulisic play attacking mid?
I personally think he can play any of the attacking positions. Behind attackers, on both wings or in attack. But his goalscoring is brutal, inside the box he looks deadlier than Gimenez.
Pulisic is really one of a kind. He is unique
If Pulisic does not get sufficient playing time , he will be gone in January. The USA cannot afford to have their best player not ready for the World Cup next
summer.
3-4-3 in attack maybe?
Too many centre mids for 3-4-3, I dont think it happens. 3-5-2 with Pulisic as CAM, Ricci and Jashari behind him as double pivot is more likely I guess
Leao – Hojlund
Estupinan – Jashari – Ricci – Puli – Saelemakers
Pavlovic – Lucumi – De Winter
Maignan
This’s not bad at all@ kings22
Then waste 4 midfielders i.e modric,fofana,cheek and Musa on d bench.if we are signing another striker then we are building for a 4-3-3 not 3-5-2
Thank you very much. Formation will be messed. If he is going to play 352, he should sell Leao & Pulisic then, because they aren’t so important. Leao & Pulisic as double 9 makes no sense at all than Gimwnez & Hojlund. Leao & Pulisic should play in there natural positions if you really wants to see the best in them. 433 is the best formation as per the calibre of players we have on ground
I too don’t see how a 3 5 2 works long term. If you get another striker, you have a new st, gimenez, leao, pulisic, okafor, chukwueze, fighting for two spots where arguably none are playing in their natural position. Especially for pulisic I hope he doesn’t warm the bench.
We’re looking for another 9 yet we are fielding none against Bari in a 352…
We don’t have to stress ourselves here cause the Mister knows better and there can be a switch of formation during the match 3 5 2 can still be like this
Leao – Gimenez
Puli
Estupinan – Jashari – Ricci – Athekame
Pavlovic – Gabbia – De Winter
Maignan
Milan will play 3 at the back
Leao will not play as a winger but a support striker more like a Vinicius Jr. Role of 2 seasons back when Rodrygo partnered him and not Mbappe.
Leao Pulisic/New striker
Estupinan Jashari Loftus Cheek Ricci Athekame
Pavlovic Gabbia/De Winter Lucumi
Maignan
There is no way Pulisic will be benched. Whatever formation the team plays, he will be in it.
Agree
The problem with this team is the signing of players without a style in mind to play.if we want to stick to 3-5-2 then there is no reason to bring in hojlund as we have Leao, puli, gimenez and okafor for the 2 striker spots and we re playing just 2 competitions.i think where will need investing in wud be one more center back.thats all