Leon Goretzka is intrigued by the idea of joining AC Milan but Champions League football will be crucial, it has been revealed.
Of all the players linked to Milan ahead of the 2026-27 season, Goretzka’s name has probably been mentioned the most. The midfielder has a contract which will expire at the end of next month with Bayern Munich and it has already been confirmed that he will try a new adventure.
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There has been growing optimism in recent weeks regarding the idea that Milan can overcome the competition and land the German. However, that has run congruent to the team’s declining performances on the pitch which have jeopardised a top four finish.
‘A huge factor’
The Rossoneri need six points from their last three games to mathematically clinch a top four spot. As Gianluca Di Marzio revealed live on Sky (via MilanVibes), that seems to be a crucial landmark for convincing Goretzka and also potentially Bernardo Silva.
“Qualifying for the Champions League is crucial both from a financial standpoint, with budgetary requirements, and from an attractiveness standpoint, as it’s a key tool in convincing foreign players to come and play in Italy. I’m referring specifically to Milan, Juventus and Roma,” he said.
“A player like Bernardo Silva, pursued by Italian clubs, is waiting to see if he’ll make it to that competition or not. This final rush is also a huge factor in securing potential free transfers.
“Take Leon Goretzka, who is about to play in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final with Bayern Munich, and the competition has the ambition to continue playing in it, and he hopes to do so with Milan.”
There’s no way Bernardo Silva will join Milan even if we qualify for CL which is very questionable and at serious risk right now. How could we afford his salary, come on? Not the mention that some kind of a considerable commission will almost certainly be involved considering he is about to become a free agent in less than two months. It hurts me to say it but we don’t stand a chance against barcelona.
You could say the same about Goretzka.
Footballers know that, as they get older, their salaries will have to adjust. If money is first priority for Bernardo Silva, the Saudi League is right there for him to join. If he stays in Europe, clearly it’s for sporting reasons.
I could say that, yes, but there is a big difference, Goretzka is at least and actually showing the will and his intention to come to Milan, Bernardo Silva is not and neither is (correct me if I am wrong) Lewandowski, sadly.
Yes, he is going to go to Barcelona, compete for titles and be close to his home. Why would he join Milan? To do what? You think everyone was a Milan fan as a kid and that is the most important thing when making a decision about your next club? He doesn’t have to go to Saudi to make more money than at Milan. Juventus would offer him double than Milan, what is the Milan pull in this situation?
Champion’s League is crucial for RedBird, not Milan. Milan will flop about with or without CL …
Both of these are terrible ideas.
A transfer should bring something new to the squad – provide characteristics that don’t already exist.
Milan have consistently failed to do this.
They sign multiple players with the same characteristics. Modric, Jashari and Ricci are the latest examples, and it should surprise nobody that 2/3 struggled.
2/3 always struggle.
What Milan are currently lacking is physicality and pace, particularly with Fofana lacking an end product and Leao losing his edge.
So what Milan desperately need is pace and power.
Neither of these players offer that.
Instead they will make Milan more static and confuse the existing line up.
A midfield of Goretzka, Modric and (to a lesser degree) Rabiot won’t work because, bar the latter, it’s too static. Even the latter provides a different kind of physicality and movement.
Milan also need to inject pace into the attack particularly if Leao and Pulisic are sold or continue to struggle. At his age, Silva, won’t bring pace.
Milan should sign a LWB, CM and CF with common characteristics – pace, physicality and aggression.
They have the technical players. They need players who are going to mix it up.
The other thing they desperately need is a dead ball specialist who will provide 5+ goals per season from free kicks. That can be the difference between winning and drawing.
If Jashari can’t provide that then they need to sell him and find a player who can who can also provide cover and eventually replace Modric.
Both would be an upgrade to what we have.
Is Goretzka an upgrade on Modric?
Possibly but why are they upgrading Modric when there’s other areas?
The plan presumably is to play BOTH of them so they’ll end up cancelling each other out.
As for Silva he might be an upgrade on Saelemaekers but again – why are they upgrading Saelemaekers?
Don’t they have other priorities?
Hasn’t Saelemaekers only just got settled after multiple loans where he helped Milan’s rivals finish above them?
Or is the plan to BOTH of them – in which case, yep again, they cancel each other out.
This in a nutshell has been the problem with Milan’s transfers for years.
Goretzka is an upgrade on Ricci and Jashari for sure. I’d put him ahead of Fofana and RLC as well. But I’d keep Fofana RLC and Jashari in the squad.
I’d keep Saleamakers too. Bernardo can play anywhere in midfield. I’d prefer both to be in the team.