AC Milan are not just working on signings in the final month of the mercato but also exits too. However, they have run into a problem: nobody wants to leave.
As Corriere dello Sport (via MilanNews) recall this morning, during the press conference to present Paulo Fonseca, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was quite clear that Milan’s intention is to have a squad of 23, maximum 25 players available to the Portuguese coach.
That is why the directors are also dedicating a fair bit of time to outgoings to trim down a squad that currently has many more players than those who should eventually form the definitive group once the season starts.
The issue is that the players also have to co-operate. Divock Origi and Fode Ballo-Touré for example have rejected most of the proposals presented to them because they were not convinced by the destinations and/or projects.
While the Belgian striker has closed himself off from the possibility of going to play in Turkey, the Senegalese full-back has done the same, even turning down Besiktas because he is convinced he can find a place in the Premier League.
Getting rid of these two surplus players is one of Milan’s objectives because both weigh on the balance sheet at €10m gross combined, a significant sum that could be reinvested in some new additions.
Adding on to the piece from CorSport, it is worth mentioning the recent reports stating that Yacine Adli has turned down Saudi clubs because he wants to stay and Luka Jovic wishes to fight for a place.
Then there are players like Tommaso Pobega who could generate a nice capital gain but is important for the squad lists and perhaps doesn’t have a big market, while Alexis Saelemaekers was an obvious sale candidate until Fonseca decided he wants to keep him.