After more or less securing Charles De Ketelaere, with medicals now scheduled, AC Milan could shift focus from the attacking trio for now. However, the Belgian might not be their last signing for the department, a report claims.
De Ketelaere will mainly play as a No.10 for Milan but it’s also likely that he will play to the right, seeing as Yacine Adli has done well in pre-season as the No.10. In any case, many would still say that the right-wing is Milan’s biggest weakness.
According to Calciomercato.com, Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara will make a new attempt for Hakim Ziyech towards the end of August. The Chelsea winger is seemingly exit-bound and the potential attempt obviously depends on the competition on the market.
Milan never interact with auctions, but if no club has come forward with a concrete proposal by then, the Rossoneri will make a serious attempt for Ziyech. The latter has expressed his willingness to join the Italian champions and also to lower his salary, which is an important factor.
Milan and Chelsea are on excellent terms but it might not be easy to strike an agreement on the basis of a paid loan with an option to buy, as the report concludes. For a Ziyech update, in other words, we will have to wait quite a bit.
LET’S GOOOOOO. Forza Milan ⚫🔴
It’s already a positive that a move for Ziyech is not completely ruled out
The media do not completely rule it out. Making rumours is their source of income.
Ziyech can only come if one of the RW + Bakayoko leave (again… only 17 non-homegrown over 21 years old players can be registered for UCL/Serie A, Milan have 18, exceeding the limit by 1).
And I want to see dynamic trio of Leao-Adli-CDK behind the striker, so I am not hoping for Ziyech.
Why would you not want to see Ziyech??? Can never have enough depth (we play every 3 days due to World Cup) and let’s not forget Adli and CDK are both amazing talents however neither can a) play every game; and b) are young and need time to adapt to a new league and country. putting extra pressure on them at such a young age isn’t wise – hence M&M looking for another experienced player in Ziyech who can play RW and cover CAM if needed. If we can get him on loan for cheap and he’s cutting his salary to join it’s a no-brainer you get him asap. I get the excitement for both CDK and Adli and think if we give them time will be immense talents for us just like Tonali, Tomori, Kalulu, etc…but key is time and let’s not ruin them with unrealistic expectations. Sign Ziyech if we can absolutely.
“Ziyech can only come if one of the RW + Bakayoko leave”
I wouldn’t dwell on that. M&M know what they’re doing. They certainly have a plan. Or actually many. If they’re not worried about the registration limits, we shouldn’t either. Trust them.
we could also just add one player too old for the primavera who could fill out the spot so we wont lose it but unlikely playing any minutes.
Even back in the 90ies we had players that was pretty much fill in the squads but never grazed the pitch ever for us.
The media knows nothing, Maldini know this, media do not, they just write rubbish.
The fact that Maldini pursue CDK so hard means Maldini is concerned about squad registration. CDK is still U21 so he exempt from the non-homegrown limit. That is also one major reason he is a primary target.
@martin
Adding players from primavera does not matter.
There can only be 17 non-homegrown who are over 21 years old that can be registered!
Adding primavera players do not raise the limit from 17. We currently have 18, someone (likely Bakayoko) need to be cut. And if Milan want to sign Ziyech, one more need to be cut.
We can bin Baka and Toure
Milan currently have 27 players, but only 26 of them can be registered. Note that filling academy product slots or homegrown slots are not mandatory. Here is the current state:
Academy Product (4 slots):
1. Calabria
2. Gabbia
3. Pobega
4. –
Association Homegrown (4 slots):
1. Mirante
2. Florenzi
3. Tonali
4. Bennacer
Non-Homegrown (17 slots):
1. Maignan
2. Tatarusanu
3. Tomori
4. Kalulu
5. Kjaer
6. Theo
7. Balo-Toure
8. Krunic
9. Bakayoko
10. Adli
11. Diaz
12. Messias
13. Saelemaekers
14. Leao
15. Rebic
16. Ibrahimovic
17. Giroud
18. Origi
U-21 (infinite slots):
1. De Ketelaere
2. Lazetic
As you can see, Milan is over limit on non-homegrown slots. Buying 1 more non-homegrown (not U21) means we need to remove 2, buying 2 more means we need to remove 3.
We can bin Toure, but who will replace him? Primavera player? Why aren’t we linked to buy homegrown LB? Why are we keep linked to non-homegrown who are not even U21? The media are insane.
Crap, I just realize homegrown LB won’t solve it as the 4 homegrown slots are already filled… only a primavera player can replare Balo-Toure…
I take my word back, I’m not even sure CDK and Lazetic can be registered via B list, if not then Milan need to cut 3 players at the current state…
Yelnats24 I didnt say we should add primavera players but players we already own that are too old to play down there anylonger so yes we should have someone available if it really turns out as an issue when we will need to registrate the squad.
I recheck the rule, CDK and Lazetic can only be registered using A list as the B list for U-21 must have been in the club for at least 2 years.
It means at the current state, 3 players will be excluded from UCL squad, last season it was Samu and Pellegri who were excluded.
Yelnats24 you are talking about first team players im not .
Bakayoko should stay. Those that can and should go are:
1. Brahim Diaz: send him back to Real Madrid. With Adli and CdK, what does Milan need him for? Why does Milan have to keep developing him? I don’t believe Milan will buy him.
2. Saelemaekers: send him on loan, or if a good offer comes, sell him. Messias has better number and can be adequate backup for Ziyech – if he comes.
Milan actually need to remove three.
Zlatan and Lazetic can take turn, Zlatan unregistered at UCL squad for the 1st half of the season before taking Lazetic slot for the 2nd half while the latter will be loaned out.
So 2 more need to be cut, the candidates are Bakayoko, Diaz, or Balo-Toure.
Otherwise they will have to be excluded from UCL squad like what happen to Castillejo and Pellegri last year.
Here is the revised list;
Players who can only be registered using A list:
Academy Product (4 slots):
1. Calabria
2. Gabbia
3. Pobega
4. –
Association Homegrown (4 slots):
1. Mirante
2. Florenzi
3. Tonali
4. Bennacer
Non-Homegrown (17 slots):
1. Maignan
2. Tatarusanu
3. Tomori
4. Kalulu
5. Kjaer
6. Theo
7. Balo-Toure
8. Krunic
9. Bakayoko
10. De Ketelaere
11. Adli
12. Diaz
13. Messias
14. Saelemaekers
15. Leao
16. Rebic
17. Ibrahimovic
18. Giroud
19. Origi
20. Lazetic
3 players from non-homegrown list need to be cut, either sell them, loan them out, terminate their loan, or exclude them from UCL squad.
Bakayoko loan will be terminated while lazetic will be loaned to small club. AC Milan only register ibra after half season . Thats already 3 non homegrown out
Then who will be out after Zlatan return?
Remember, removing 3 does not open a slot, it only make all the remaining players can be registered at UCL squad.
If there is 1 new player (after CDK), then 4 non-homegrown will need to be removed or at least excluded from UCL.
Messias or Saelemaekers or diaz.
Depends on their performance.
I think Ziyech would be a great and much needed addition to our team. Hopefully we can manage to secure him, and, if we also manage to get a CB (Tanganga or someone else with comparable profile) I will be a happy man. Forza Milan!
Instead if removing Saelemaekers or Messias, what about removing Diaz? Milan only need to terminate the loan, no need to find buyer. Messias actual position is AM, not RW.