The midfield has been a priority since the start of the summer for AC Milan, mainly the defensive midfield role, and there has been some movement on this front. According to a report, the Rossoneri are now eyeing two players.
Milan conceded too many goals during the 2023-24 season and one of the obvious culprits was the lack of balance. Not having a proper defensive midfield, with Ismael Bennacer coming back from injury, truly hurt the Rossoneri and that mistake cannot be repeated.
As reported by Gazzetta dello Sport this morning (see photo below), Youssouf Fofana and Lazar Samardzic are the most concrete targets as things stand. However, for both deals to happen, Milan must monetise the departures of Ismael Bennacer and Yacine Adli or Tommaso Pobega.
Bennacer has a release clause of €50m and has attracted interest in Saudi Arabia, which could result in a huge payday for Milan. In any case, Fofana has been identified as the key target for the defensive midfield role and since his contract will expire in 2025, Monaco should cave eventually.
Milan are aiming to close a deal at €15m and the feeling is that as time goes on, especially since the player has already accepted the move, Monaco will accept the offer. For Samardzic, meanwhile, there will be a meeting with Udinese in the coming days to understand the situation.
The Fruili side have been asking for €20m so far, the same amount Inter agreed to pay last summer, and it remains to be seen how Milan will approach the negotiations.
Well Samardzic is an actual DM not another box to box midfielder.
Plus if Adli is part of the deal that would make my summer.
Samardzic and Morata would be a 2 for 2 for players we actually need!
That would make this one of our most successful summers (if we can avoid signing any defenders….).
We also need to sell about 20 players.
Jesus Christ Samardzic is not a DM.
Oops I was thinking of a different player!
Ok we definitely don’t need him. He’ll kill RLC and Zeroli as well as himself.
Fofana is definitely not the answer. We need someone who’ll sit and plug that massive hole in our midfield!
…but, Samardzic is better than RLC
Samardic is a DM ? Wtf are you smoking?
He is CAM or CM not even close to a defensive midfielder.
Sorry thinking of a different player!
What are you even saying … hahahaha
Please dont sell Isma this season, we need him
Don’t worry, NO ONE will ever pay 50M€ for him.
holberg is going for less than 17mil. him and fofana will have murder that midfield till musa is ready to be the new Gattuso.
that’s a big problem, imo… he has the making of Gattuso, but he tries to be Seedorf… he unfortunately doesn’t have a shred of the latter technique and passing. hopefully Fofana will mentor him
Thank you. Musa & Fofana is a good fit, Reijnders up or Samardzic, I don’t too like RLC he is too slow
I wouldn’t really push for Samardzic, RLC off the bench option is nice to have and he got his confidence to score…
CAM – Reijnders (Sub: RLC)
CMD/CM – Fofana (Sub: Musah)
CM – Bennacer (Sub: Adli/Samardzic)
My problem is the following we still need a more defensive player in midfield… If management thinks Samardzic can play as a sub for Bennacer, auto upgrade on Adli, but can he actually manage to do that, is another. While for Adli lack of physicality hurts him, can he get buff? Both options seem risky. Samuelle Ricci seems more appropriate and can come in a Pobega swap.
For depth we still need a CDM: Bove, Rovella, Cristante all plausible. Rovella is not needed at Lazio anymore due to new coach, and he has a 16-17M release clause. Bove around the same price and I think Roma need sales to get other targets. Cristante is both older and most likely unsellable to them
Samaric means Rabbiot is off the table I guess, which is bad news. Hopefully we at least get Fofana
Rabiot will end up in the PL. He was never an option at 9mil a year.