Paulo Fonseca spoke about the importance of AC Milan improving their defensive record during his first press conference, and the management reportedly have two profiles in mind.
“I studied the team and I don’t want to make comparisons with the past. I have to look at what I have to learn. One of the things we have to improve to win is to be a more balanced team. I studied the defensive issue, we have to improve. This is related to the way we defend,” Fonseca said today.
“What I can say is that we want a more aggressive team that defends further from our goal. I will work to improve this phase. We have good defenders and I don’t think it’s an individual problem, we have to improve collectively. The priority is a striker at the moment.”
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Milan management have two objectives to help bolster the rearguard sooner rather than later: to sign a new centre-back and a new right-back.
The gap between Milan and Spurs has widened for Emerson Royal: the Rossoneri’s offer of just over €10m was rejected, while Tottenham continues to ask for €20m.
For the central defender position, the giant Strahinja Pavlovic of Red Bull Salzburg is one of the ideas and the wheels could quickly spring into motion if one of the central defenders currently in the squad leaves.
The paper adds that Malick Thiaw is more likely to leave than Fikayo Tomori at present, while another thing that will help the new coach is the signing of a defensive midfielder.
At present, it seems most likely that Youssouf Fofana will be the first addition of the summer for Milan. The 25-year-old can arrive for €20m plus bonuses and there are ‘no insurmountable obstacles’, rather the wait is due to the player’s commitments at the European Championship with France.