Tuttosport: Bennacer and three targets – Fonseca hoping for rejuvenated midfield

AC Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca hopes to soon be able to call on a bit more midfield depth than he has had so far, with a returnee and a potential signing.

At the moment Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders are working overtime because of the lack of alternatives in the department. Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been used further forward and is not in the best form, while Yunus Musah seems to be a right-sided player in Fonseca’s eyes now.

While waiting to understand when and how Ismael Bennacer will return from the injury to the medial calf muscle he had in early September (which required surgery), Tuttosport (via MilanNews) speaks of potential reinforcements in January.

There are three names that the directors are carefully evaluating: Morten Frendrup of Genoa, Reda Belahyane of Hellas Verona and Johnny Cardoso of Real Betis. It seems Napoli and Lazio want the Verona man, while for Cardoso the USA international does have an EU passport.

Sky reported that Bennacer might actually be back before the end of the year, with the Roma game targeted. In his pre-match press conference on the eve of the Atalanta game, Fonseca gave an update on the Algerian and expressed a positive impression.

“Bennacer is more handsome, he changed his haircut (laughs). Physically he is fine, it was a pleasure to see him again. We are satisfied. He needs some time to work in the team, I think he is in the final part of the work before starting with the group,” he said.