Zlatan Ibrahimovic will bid farewell to AC Milan after tonight’s game against Hellas Verona, and the management are already working on his potential replacement.
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Calciomercato.com writes how ‘the show must go on’ despite Ibrahimovic’s exit and the considerable impact he had on Milan’s recent history. Milan seems to have very clear ideas on how to fill the charismatic void left by the Swede, and the name is Marko Arnautovic.
Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara are looking for an experienced striker who would work alongside Olivier Giroud and another younger centre-forward on whom an investment will be made, and Arnautovic is ‘the first choice’.
Continuous contacts are ongoing between the Milan management and the entourage of the Austrian, who at the age of 34 feels ready for one last spell at a top club, especially after scoring nine goals in 20 appearances this season.
Bologna have decided that Arnautovic can leave for an amount in the region of €7-8m and they are wating for a first concrete step from Milan to sit down at the negotiating table.
Even if Arnautovic arrives that does not close the door to Lois Openda or Folarin Balogun joining given an investment is needed on a name for the future and they are different profiles to the former West Ham star anyway.
The departures of Ante Rebic – valued between €10-15m – and Divock Origi could raise funds for the budget and free up wages to then bring in the younger striker that is so badly needed.
