This morning signifies the opening of the mercato, and with Paulo Fonseca needing at least four signings, AC Milan are ready to begin working, and a report has listed four names who will be targeted.
Whether it was Stefano Pioli, Julen Lopetegui or ‘Mister X’, the areas of improvement have been identified in recent months, and now there is a plan to get these areas sorted quickly.
Last summer, Milan made several attempts for players at the end of the summer due to their lack of a second goalscorer arriving with Luka Jovic in the window, and a similar issue occurred in January, where, again, the Rossoneri were forced to make late moves due to the lack of movement.
Whilst no signings were made at the end of the January window – which, in fairness, was probably a good thing for the Diavolo due to the January prices being additionally inflated by the timings – the issues remain, and new ones have arisen.
Leading up to today, reports have suggested that Fonseca wants four positions strengthened, at the very minimum, and this morning’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport (via Milan News) suggests that the four players Milan are seemingly concrete.
Starting with the right-back, unsurprisingly, the preference is still Emerson Royal, who has already given a move the green light, but work continues to be done with Tottenham Hotspur about a price – they do not want to pay more than €18 million.
In midfield, again unsurprisingly, Youssouf Fofana is still leading the charts, his profile is what the Rossoneri desire and his price is the right amount for the club to make a move. Furthermore, the paper suggests that a move is in the final steps.
Here comes the surprise. Given the track to Joshua Zirkzee has been halted by a 100-foot-tall commission-looking wall, the move has slowed massively. Instead, Romelu Lukaku is now the first choice, but if Chelsea do not change their stance on the structure of a deal, Tammy Abraham is seen as a fantastic candidate.
In addition, Gazzetta suggests that a move for both strikers could be made, which lines up with the fact that Milan want a three-striker department next season.
I understand that the mercato has just started, but all this simply has to go faster! Other clubs do not sleep and act more concretely. I know that money doesn’t fall from the sky, but sometimes I have the feeling that our people in the club’s management act like grandmothers at the market bargaining for a bag of potatoes and carrots! And Tammy Abraham… really !?
I think all the rumors above are just media nonsense. Nobody will come. Remember, this is about spending money. It’s not about building a team.
Why spend 5m on Jimenez and then 18m on emerson royal? Jimenez should be competing with Calabria to keep him on his toes. Spend that money on signing a proper CF. Jimenez and Carmada should be part of senior squad.