One of the biggest issues that AC Milan must resolve ahead of the summer is how the attack will look going into the 2024-25 season, with renewals to address and targets to evaluate.
According to what is being reported by Calciomercato.com, the managerial trio of Giorgio Furlani, Geoffrey Moncada and Antonio D’Ottavio are thinking about who should be the No.9 of the future, which is intertwined with issues such as Stefano Pioli’s future as head coach.
The present sees Olivier Giroud and Luka Jovic as the two striker options but both are on expiring contracts, while a younger, physically reliable goal scorer is required to safeguard the position for years to come.
Olivier Giroud: Giroud and Milan, by mutual agreement, have decided to postpone any more concrete discussion on the renewal of the contract expiring in June until the end of the season.
Moncada and D’Ottavio will give wide freedom of choice to the player, because of the mutual affection and esteem. Milan’s idea would be to continue for another season together while also re-discussing the contractual terms, but the Frenchman may be tempted by the MLS.
Luka Jovic: Jovic arrived on a free transfer from Fiorentina on deadline day and has a salary of €1.3m net per year, but Milan can exercise an option to extend the agreement for another three seasons. The Serbian wants to stay and is trying to convince the Rossoneri management, with a decision expected in the Spring.
Francesco Camarda: On March 10th Camarda will celebrate his 16 birthday and, by regulation, he will have the opportunity to sign his first professional contract, and the strategy has already been outlined by the Rossoneri and his agent Beppe Riso.
Camarda should sign a three-year extension expiring in June 2027 and a gradual but increasingly constant insertion into the dynamics of the first team are envisaged, waiting to find out whether the U23 team will be registered in Serie C for next season.
Lorenzo Colombo: Milan are also evaluating the permanent sale of Colombo amid interest from Cagliari and Genoa, meaning a loan is no longer the only option considered. He renewed until 2028 before being loaned to Monza, is valued at €15-20m could be included in a possible deal for Alessandro Buongiorno with Torino.
Joshua Zirkzee: Moncada and D’Ottavio are ready to ‘sacrifice’ Colombo for €15m to get to Zirkzee who they think will cost €45-50m. Alexis Saelemaekers could enter the operation as a counterpart as well, while Napoli are keen on the Dutchman.
Benjamin Sesko: There is total approval from the management towards Sesko. From Germany they are already talking about an offer of €40m to RB Leipzig for the 21-year-old Slovenian centre-forward, who is also liked by Arsenal and who has a €50m release clause, but Zirkzee remains the priority.
Jonathan David: He seemed to be the number one objective during this winter, in view of a move to be made in the summer, and while he would be the easiest to sign due to costs and relationships with the French club things seem to have gone cold.
Serhou Guirassy: Milan have concretely considered signing the Stuttgart striker Guirassy. The situation went cold in conjunction with the abolition of the Growth Decree, which could have made it possible to satisfy the financial demands of the French-born attacker.
Guirassy’s request was around €4m net per season, but the other obstacle concerned the €17m release clause, which would be difficult to pay in instalments.
Akor Adams: There were contacts in the build-up to January with Montpellier for the Nigerian centre-forward Adams but they did not bring the desired results as the French club having decided to keep him at least until the end of the season. A lot will depend on the player’s will, with €15m his current valuation.
Alternatives: Milan’s list does not end here as Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting Lisbon, Santiago Gimenez of Feyenoord, Vangelis Pavlidis of AZ Alkmaar, Folarin Balogun of Monaco are among the other profiles considered by the directors.
Fraud Colombo isn’t worth more than 5 mil
Still did miles better than Jovic last night. The same Jovic people have been demanding to start over Giroud for ages now. 🙂
I like Zirkzee the most but would also be delighted with the arrival of either Sesko or Gyokeres.
Dont forget 2 milan loanee whos perfect performance last night with historical win against Milan. Maldini got assist and colombo get the goal. Pioli will smile. Hehe
I’ll be the directors would be prepared to ‘sacrifice’ Colombo for 15-20m, given he is worth half that at best.