AC Milan are hoping to get the Joshua Zirkzee deal wrapped up quickly and then they will shift to targeting other areas to bolster, including the centre-back position.
As Calciomercato.com write, the management are likely to make changes to the defensive department given that Milan conceded 68 goals in 52 matches across all competitions last season, at an average of 1.3 goals conceded per match.
Who could arrive to help a struggling rearguard? Alessandro Buongiorno of Torino is the dream, but his price tag is very high and there is a lot of competition, in addition to the fact that Urbano Cairo suggested he will not consider offers.
The alternatives that Geoffrey Moncada and his team like most are Maxence Lacroix of Wolfsburg – the most intriguing solution in terms of potential and costs, given his deal runs out in 2025 – and Lillian Brassier. The latter, a centre-back at Brest, was already spoken about in the last winter transfer window.
Furthermore, the possibility of signing a further reinforcement with different characteristics also emerged, i.e. an experienced centre-back who can have a Kjaer-like impact. However, that would only be considered after a young player has arrived, but it would perhaps explain the Mats Hummels links.
First and foremost we need leaders. Buongiorno brings leadership experience with him. Same can be said for Di Lorenzo, who’s available for 20 millions.
But we’ll soon find out what can happen when you have bunch of foreign kids and average alternatives with no Serie A experience or leadership quality, running after the ball.
Fonseca doesn’t strike me as a leader or a person with a strong character either.
Well said.
I’d rather go with Brassier and Hummels on free, there you have one promising young talents who has the same profile as Buongiorno with the advantage on being left footed and you have leadership with Hummels . Buongiorno is good but super overpriced unless we use Pobega on the transaction who’s in my opinion not Milan material
You are right! The problem with the Italians is they’re overpriced with no international experience. You stuck with them because they’re not in demand as people may think. Just look all around Europe to find one top Club that are going after Italian gems or one in which they excelled in the last 5 years. Look at Scammaca, he had to be sent back to Italy because he failed in a mid-table club in England while he was considered the future of the Italian squad.
Losing kjaer Giroud and probably florenzi at once is gonna be a big blow. Idk if they realise that in the management. And fonseca will be under a lot of pressure instantly. The roma pressure will seem like a picnic for him. I don’t think he’s the right guy
Di Lorenzo And buongiorno is not gonna bring leadership qualities either, not right away atleast. Players like Leao is arguable just as experienced or more, them telling him to run more is not gonna do nothing, you need someone with pedigree and top level experience. Someone with more authority who players like leao can respect. Someone like Zlatan. I like the players tho, just don’t think they will bring the much “needed” experience we need
Get Buongiorno FFS, stop with signing foreigners for once
If loaning Gabbia out and kept Pobega in last season still in line with the italian homegrown means that we only need one of them. Use Pobega to get Buongiorno. Add some money from CDK sale probably enough. Get Zirkzee with total 55 (plus commission), the operations should be 80ish in total.
One of Kalulu or Thiaw plus the sale of Salemaekers should cover the CDM purchase and there you go, we can get all we need within the 100 million budget we’ve been told and having a great mercato.
I like the way you’re thinking, almost a dream scenario. Management seems set on buying a RB tho
We signed Caldara and Bonucci once – one was a promising Italian starlet, the other a seasoned veteran.
Remember how that played out?
That really doesn’t mean anything. It can happen the same with Zirkzee or any other new addition.
What do we do with Thiaw and Gabbia, lone them out or sell them? Tomori is certainly a lock, and Kalulu is still there. They must have a plan but I’m curious what it is, if they’re looking to add two additional CBs to the mix. To me they should be talking about adding two CDM if anything.
Keep Gabia for sure. He was our most consistent CB last season.
Gabbia is bench depth and not a bad one as he’s shown. But he won’t start.
I think he has shown himself capable, and he’s still just 24. He’s never going to be a star for sure but I’m totally happy to have him and Thiaw fight for that second spot, if we can’t get Buongiorno. That money can be spent elsewhere. I still believe in Thiaw too, he struggled with form and injuries last year but we know his quality, and still just 22.
I know we need strikers, but honestly I’m more interested in how they will organize the defense. This number of conceded goals from last season simply cannot be repeated if we intend to seriously compete in all competitions. I think that Boungiorno would certainly be one of the best solutions for us, but the president of Torino Cairo obviously likes to act like a tough nut and ruin the careers of his players! (the case of Belotti a few years ago).