The January transfer window is still a long way off, but the AC Milan management have reportedly already decided that they will be active and they will spend money to bolster the squad available to Paulo Fonseca.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the main target will be another midfielder because Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders are playing non-stop and have no convincing alternatives, but that is not the only area that needs addressing because a left-back and another winger are also being sought.
Midfield gap
Milan are struggling for alternatives in the middle of the park, mostly because Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been going through a period of poor form and has recently been out due to a physical problem, while Yunus Musah is not fully convincing and because Ismael Bennacer is out after calf surgery.
The Algerian will return in January after a long absence, but the Rossoneri – who are already suffering now – will need certainties as soon as the transfer window reopens. That is why Morten Frendrup is high on their list, who dreams of a move to a big team.
Genoa, while wanting to keep him, know that the risk of losing him exists. The initial request of the Rossoblù is around €20m, five times the amount that the Grifone paid in the summer of 2022, but a loan with obligation deal is possible.
Frendrup has often been watched by Milan’s scouts and has convinced everyone, so for this reason the 23-year-old Dane should be considered in pole position if the need to put a piece in the middle is confirmed in the next two months.
A boost for the wing
Christian Pulisic has been in excellent form again on the right, but Samuel Chukwueze remains an issue because he is not showing any signs of becoming the player he was at Villarreal, the one which convinced Milan to agree a deal worth €20m plus €8m in bonuses.
This is why reflections are underway, or rather a real casting to identify a player that could come in and provide a boost, with Andreas Skov Olsen of Club Brugge, Noa Lang of PSV Eindhoven and Ismaila Sarr of Crystal Palace all mentioned by the paper last week.
To this list we must add Domenico Berardi, who has recovered from an injury to his Achilles tendon. Sassuolo hope to keep him until the end of the season, but are willing to accommodate him in the event of a permanent transfer or even a loan with an obligation to buy.
The discussion regarding the centre-forward department remains open too, with Jonathan David an option being considered more for next summer rather than the winter window.
A hole on the left
And then there is the problem on the left flank: Fonseca has only Filippo Terracciano and the young Alex Jimenez as Theo Hernandez’s deputy and his suspension means that one of the two will have to be used in the next two league games.
The feeling is that a reinforcement could arrive for that side and Patrick Dorgu of Lecce is a target. Convincing the Salento club – who are in a relegation battle – to let him go in January will not be easy at all.
It would take a significant offer, perhaps with a counterpart going the other way, but the discussion must be kept open because the Dane is seen as the right profile is right in terms of age, quality and potential:.
I’m not a fan of wholesale changes but if we brought in Ricci, Berardi and Scalvini and shipped Tomori, RLC and Chukwueze I’d be much happier than I am now.
But I’m dreaming – we would never do this. I will never, ever understand how we stood and watched Chiesa go to England for 12m.
Same here. A rotation of Leao, Pulisic and Chiesa for the two winger positions would have been awesome.
It would’ve been a great rotation tbh.
Romero would have been a better choice than Chuk, but if they bring in Berardi he could bring a positive influence to the team.
replace Berardi with Gnoto and I’m down… Berardi isn’t the same threat we all sadly experienced when playing Sassuolo
Man berardi is so injury prone it’s better to just promote a kid or something.
And we don’t need a ST. Unless they fúck off Abraham back to roma. And we get saladmaker back and there’s your depth for wing.
Then we get colombo back and there’s you depth for ST. Cheap solutions and sensible.
David? What for?
Its out of our hands in regard of Colombo as he was lent out with an option to buy and not sure whether Empoli would want to cut the loan short.
If there is will from player then they’d find a way.
We can always loan them origi instead 😄
😀 Sure no issues with me there.
Musah, RLC, Chuk, Tomori, Thiaw and Abraham should all be on departing list. Sadly I cannot see Emerson leaving just yet as he only arrived but who knows, maybe we get an actual coach who’ll see Emerson as we all do. A waste of space and money.
Oh and I don’t think we need to buy a new winger. Jimenez is the man. He’s no fullback.
Berardi was at his prime and has been liked to Milan for almost 7season. Its now that he has declined and close to retirement Milan think of signing him or its another macreto rumor.
Milan doesn’t have the money.
Before big sales nothing is possible
lol. Cover on the wing?
I was here when Chiesa was available begging for the management to move for him. I was called a lot of names on here by a certain turtle poster.
I wonder if he still feels the same. Chiesa for 12 million was the move. Period.
It was a steal but if they get Berardi on loan it would also be a positive move to have another experienced player that can play for 20 min to close out games.
The problem was Chiesa salary and he’s also very injury prone. I like him a lot because I grew up watching his father in the 90s but both Chiesa and Berardi would not be a good option because of injuries.
In my opinion Milan should capitalize on selling Chukwueze and use Musah as a backup for Pulisic on the right wing.
But before we go off the rail making signings in January, Fonseca needs to settle on a formation.
He seems determined to stick with the 4231 which I think is the wrong move but if he doesn’t switch to 433 or 343 then the club will have to make a lot of changes to the team.
And that starts with getting at least a proper attacking midfielder and start using Liberali more in the first team.
Then offload, RLC and Jovic who are both not useful in this formation.
If I am reading the rumors correctly then all it seems to me is that we are only realizing now (I think its too late now to sign them) that Paolo Maldini was correct when he was still at the club. These are all the player that he wanted to sign initially when these players were still a force.
I wouldn’t mind us signing Frendrup and Skov Olsen but in regard of the latter if Berradi is up in gears by January I would nevertheless love to see him join us instead. Dorgu would be a fine acquisition too but I don’t see much point for him to join us to play second fiddle unless he actually gets a real chance with us it will only be detrimental to his club and international career.
Add Lucca as well.