The main emphasis of AC Milan’s summer transfer window continues to be how they will restructure their midfield department after Sandro Tonali’s €80m sale.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes that Tonali will be heading to Newcastle United and Ismael Bennacer will be out until at least November after his knee injury while in January he could then participate in the African Cup with Algeria.
That leaves Milan with a midfield that needs rebuilding, and it started with Ruben Loftus-Cheek who joined on a four-year contract earlier in the week as the first notable summer signing.
Now, the Milan management want to follow the signing of the Englishman by adding Yunus Musah and Tijjani Rejinders for a more well-rounded department that has physicality but also athleticism and dynamism.
The mission for Giorgio Furlani and Geoffrey Moncada is to make Milan an aggressive, vertical and fast team, both in midfield and on the flanks. Once the €80m guaranteed from the sale of Tonali has been cashed in, they will have the funds to reshape the squad.
Musah is a versatile talent that Pioli could shape according to team needs. At the age of 20 he already has three seasons behind him from over thirty appearances (a total of 108 games at Valencia).
He combines power and technique, but because of this Valencia do not want to go below the valuation of €25m. Milan, strengthened by the agreement they have with the player, aim to close for less.
The distance is not unbridgeable and contacts could happen to close the deal for the USA international next week. The majority of the transfer market budget will go to midfield as per the paper, which is where Reijnders comes in.
He can play in the middle of a midfield trio or as part of a double pivot, while the Dutchman has agreed terms with Milan over a contract worth €1.7m net per season, but AZ Alkmaar want €25-30m to sell while the offer is €18-20m.
A decisive week awaits for Reijnders too in understanding if the parties will be able to reach an agreement and if bonuses, as often happens, will be decisive. The player’s agent will facilitate contacts between the clubs, expected from Monday onwards.
Davide Frattesi continues to be the subject of intrigue too, even if Milan would have to ‘proceed at speed on a winding road’ because of the competition from Inter, who have been on pole for some time.
The Rossoneri will try a possible acceleration during the week and could also attempt to include Tommaso Pobega in the deal, as a partial counterpart, because Frattesi’s valuation is considered too high by Milan.
Pobega for frattesi ? Im doubt sassoulo interesting to pobega.
Based on past experience, Frattesi would be a fair average player and Sassuolo would turn Pobega into a star and sell him for €70m to Chelsea in a year.
And giving away Pobega would mean we’d have to buy yet another midfielder too. Doesn’t make too much sense.
And the one we buy must be either Cristante or Locatelli as we lack club homegrown.
« Physicality, athleticism, dynamism” sounds like American football. Not sure it will help against the low blocks.
No issue with improving those areas, but I agree that it isn’t going to help with our main issue from last season, which IMO needs a bit more technicality and intelligence. Physicality will help though, having two tall midfielders compared to Tonali and Bennacer might help us convert a few more set pieces over the season.
Why is €80mn fee being bandied around again? I thought this was dispelled, newcastle are paying closer to €60mn up front? Which is what matters for “reinvesting” this window.
Is there a way to clarify?
“Once the €80m guaranteed from the sale of Tonali has been cashed in”
Wasn’t it less than €70m guaranteed with some part going to Brescia?
Yes and don’t forget he cost 20m to sign initially also. Deal is terrible. This “new midfield” is terrible.
And why does everyone think musah is physically strong and has size??? From what I’ve seen he’s of average strength at best… and for size he’s 75kg (165lbs) and 1.78m (5’10). RLC is way taller and heavier and even Kessie who people think musah is like was taller and far heavier. Musah is not strong. Will be a total waste of 20m. So much false hype around US players right now… plus his passing sucks and most Valencia fans are loving this sale…
I don’t know why so many people are crazy about pobega that boy isn’t milan material everyone who knows football can see he lacks quality I don’t care if they sell him for 6ml that would be profit since we don’t need him
CLUB HOMEGROWN
Our main problem is RW and Tonali’s replacement.Pulisic is a winger Chikwueze is a play maker.let us pay villareal evrything they need to get Chikwueze rather than Pulisic. Nicholas Dominguez is a perfect no. 6 with a real Argentine spirit. Let’s block pulisic and Yunus offers And save money to get these guys in addition to Tijjani. Swap CDK for Frattesi. Then we shall be good to go.
Then who will be the AM?
No need for a crap AM. Run a 3 man mid
Pioli played Kessie, Krunic, Bennacer as AM instead of turning to 3-men midfield. I think 4-2-3-1 is a bit outdated though.
No 4-2-3-1 is never outdated is the best for acmilan so far only that after Milan has acquire Loftus,reminder,musah then we need, pulisic, kamanda, samardzic or Jesper Lindstrom we need three confirm attacking midfield,one striker two wingers left and right then sell rebic,origi, CDK,pobega in exchange like include them as swap deal for players we want is the best way to sell out those players
Many clubs have leave 4-2-3-1 behind.