Stefano Pioli has asked the AC Milan management to get him a new centre-forward even though it was not high on their list of priorities, a report claims.
According to Calciomercato.com, Milan have been probing for some time to try find a striker to work alongside Olivier Giroud next season, but until now the purchase of a pure No.9 did not seem to be urgent to Giorgio Furlani and Geoffrey Moncada.
However, the coach made it clear that he wants another midfielder to properly replace Sandro Tonali and a striker to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic, passing the ball back to Furlani and Moncada.
The pre-requisites are that the striker must fall within budget, can guarantee goals, fits into a fast and vertical style of play and preferably qualifies for the Growth Decree to keep salary costs in check.
Alvaro Morata is a complicated option because of the transfer fee and pay packet involved, while the Gianluca Scamacca idea can only be viable with the opening of West Ham to a loan. Mehdi Taremi is non-EU and would cost more than €20m.
This is why both other options are being looked at, such as Emanuel Emegha of Sturm Graz, Noah Okafor of Red Bull Salzburg and Hugo Ekitike of PSG.
These are ideas that can no longer be left alone in the background, but the departure of Divock Origi will probably have to come first because of the €4m net per season he gets.
