AC Milan have struggled to get their strikers to perform this season, namely Santiago Gimenez and Christopher Nkunku, but the players they targeted this summer have’ exactly done great either.
In the summer, Milan were linked with several strikers before eventually settling on Nkunku from Chelsea. It was a deal that came a bit out of nowhere, and before that, the Rossoneri seemed more likely to make a move for Juve’s Dusan Vlahovic.
The likes of Conrad Harder, Artem Dovbyk and Victor Boniface were also heavily linked with the club. The latter even underwent medical tests in Milano, the results of which prompted the Rossoneri to abandon the signing.
Questionable targets to begin with
As highlighted by our editorial writer Rohit on X, while it’s true that Gimenez and Nkunku have been far from brilliant, the same can be said for the striker targets. Between the four of them, there are just three goals to note in league competitions:
- Boniface: 8 games, 279 minutes, 0 goals, 2 assists
- Dovbyk: 10 games, 324 minutes, 2 goals, 1 assist
- Harder: 8 games, 90 minutes, 0 goals, 0 assists
- Vlahovic: 10 games, 563 minutes, 3 goals, 0 assists
Of course, even though you can see these stats as a relief or a dodged bullet, you can also say that Milan perhaps didn’t do their scouting right. After all, they pushed heavily for these names and the qualities of each can certainly be questioned in light of the data above.
I’m sorry but you do this for a living and in an article comparing strikers you are using “games” to compare how much they played? Harder “8 games” – total of 90minutes. He played 1 game actually. Dovbyk “10 games” 323 minutes. And so on. Misleading and it takes 3 minutes extra to do it properly…
It’s been a long day, I forgot! Added now 🙂
Your point is still accurate.
hahah Bony Face lmao
Bony Face..
Some of the people here are your fans in summer. Thanks, that is a good stats of a defender/goalkeeper. haha 😀
you literally sound like a 5year old.
A five-year-old who actually has a point. Lmao Boniface
You can say the same thing about Isak, Eketike, Jonathan David, Openda, Sesko, Hojlund, Lucca, Matheus Cunha, etc.
There are only a handful of good strikers. That’s it.
You’re right
My theory is there is an overreliance on stats and highlight reels when recruiting strikers (attacking players in general). It seems to me there is no consideration given to the striker’s skill set, how he fits into a team, what style of play suits his strengths, his mentality…etc.
Of the strikers linked to Milan, only Vlahovic can be considered proven. He has reached double digits five seasons in a row between Fiorentina and a terrible Juventus, playing different styles under four or five different managers.
Top class strikers are increasingly rare but there are better strikers than the ones we were linked to over the summer.
Try Benzema, and dream Lewandosky
We want troy Parrot!!!!!! Writing this immediately after the miracle in Hungary…lool!!!
to be fair Harder has been playing 10mins a game on the wing