AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli wants another central midfielder when the window reopens having made his thoughts on Rade Krunic clear.
According to Calciomercato.com, Pioli sees Krunic as more of an attacking midfielder than someone to rotate with Kessie and Bennacer, therefore the Milan head coach is after another defensive midfielder to help the team compete in Serie A, the Europa League and the Coppa.
At the moment there are three names that are currently on the wish list, with one of them being Red Bull Salzburg’s Luka Sucic, who is among the players being specially scouted by Maldini and Massara.
Dominik Szoboszlai is another name that sporting director Massara is a great admirer of, even if he is used to playing more advanced and has a €25m asking price. The competition is high with Inter, Arsenal, other Premier League and LaLiga clubs keen.
Finally there is Boubakary Soumaré of Lille, a player that Maldini and Massara made an attempt for in September, offering a Tonali-esque formula of a high loan fee with option to buy. Milan continue to observe him closely.
The reality is we need to start thinking of who we are going to replace Diaz, Dalot and possibly Hakan and Ibra and we could use upgrade on RW and still need a CB. Diaz and Dalot are dry loans and it looks unlikely their clubs will sell them. Ibra will be 40 and Hakan may leave if a club throws 6M a season or more at him. Players like Szobozlai must be secured if we are serious about challenging for a CL spot and he would give us cover on case we lose both Hakan and Diaz. Lots of work still to do – striker, CB, RW, back-up LB or starting RB, back up defensive mid…..let’s hope Elliot allow Maldini and Massara spend some $$$