Granit Xhaka is closing in on a move to AC Milan, having given his green light, but the Rossoneri still need to reach an agreement with Bayer Leverkusen.
Earlier today, Matteo Moretto reported that Milan are expected to open talks with the German side at the start of next week to ‘set up’ the transfer. There is a lot of optimism involved, in other words, and an agreement might not be that far away.
As added by Gazzetta dello Sport this evening, the next 48 hours will indeed be ‘decisive’ as Milan 1) must agree on the price tag with Leverkusen and 2) decide whether they should invest in a 32-year-old. For now, they appear willing to close a deal.
The foundations are there to make a deal, seeing as Leverkusen can bank some cash, while Xhaka is willing to start a new adventure in Italy. Then again, as we have seen already this summer, advanced negotiations don’t always result in a total agreement.
Maignan, for example, appeared Chelsea-bound but an agreement was never reached between the clubs. Now, the goalkeeper could end up renewing his contract as Max Allegri is expected to make a big push to keep him in the team.
Can’t we loan Joao Felix again? just an opinion my fellow milanisti.
I don’t think allegris system would fit him
I see my brother
If possible,what we lack this just finished season was game plan,and identity
He Felix and fazzini is reidjnad replacement
Xhaka and modric what is happening are we turn to be hospital for elder people it’s worse we are buying him at the age of 33 I don’t understand what is happening
Maybe the algorithm doesn’t take into account age, joke management
Or maybe the algorithms don’t take into account leadership, experience and that’s what we were completely missing last year (as well as a second strong defensive cover when Fofana was tired or exposed)
There are no algorithms. Stop pushing these stupid theories. Just because Cardinale spoke about moneyball doesn’t mean it’s been implemented at Milan – it hasn’t.
I think Allegri and Tare didn’t bother updating their files from the last decade and still think these players are relevant to the current football.
Lol. And then watch Leverkusen replace Xhaka with Jashari!
Exactly. They’re stuck in the past. There’s zero evidence of scouting here. We used to identify unknowns or players who didn’t have a high profile, like Savicevic, Kaka’ and Thiago Silva, now we’re linked with the type of garbage who would play for Everton or West Ham.
Savićević wasn’t a high profile, are you out of your mind??
He was second at Ballon d’Or the year prior to the transfer.
Very simple: After a bad season in which there was no identity in midfield, after which the best midfielder was sold, you have three exits. The first, to bring players who can play immediately, without paying them much – means security. The second, to buy young players, who don’t cost much and wait for them to lose, if they lose at all. Can Milan wait for players after last season? I don’t think it can. And the third way out, for Milan to buy younger and top players like Pedri and Vithina, and we all know that it can’t, because Milan has no money, after all, they wouldn’t sell someone like that 😉.
It appears that the thinking is to stabilize and get back into top 4 as quickly as possible, hence the search for experienced players that can hit the ground running. What I just hope is that the project will take a longer term view if this objective is achieved, ie younger promising players that can grow along side the experienced players we will phase out over the 2 to 3 seasons. If that is the approach then I understand the rationale. Hope we won’t regret not moving for a Frendup, Jashari, Conceicao, De Cuyper, Dodo this season …
It is clear that they will try a combination of the first and second exits: experienced players are there to play immediately, while younger and still unestablished players will grow with the experienced ones. The pressure on the younger ones would be less, because the older ones will get into the fire right away, while they will take the game over time.
It’s not clear at all. Despite all the links, there’s only been contact with Xhaka, Rabiot and Modric. I was twice as quick as them when I was younger. We need dynamic, athletic midfielders. High pressing and athleticism was our blueprint, now everyone does it better than us.
Nice one! Allegri is looking for immediate impact players. He want TROPHY immediately and he believe mixing the Old experience together with last season players can get him to the Top,which I personally believe. Milan will have a Strong identity this Season
Exactly! At least some people have brains here. 🙂
I agree 100% .. their prime is over and a too old.
Del Piero is a good option too lol.
Along with inzaghi, Pirlo, gattuso and Maldini, Nesta. We are set to go win every cup we play 😆😆😆😆😆😆😆
Our club has become a joke.
There was no problem to bring some experienced player’s, infact this is how we won recently and in the past.
But bringing Modric at 40 is crazy, he hardly played 30mins at real and 1more year old for what?
We became a practice club or what?
Really don’t see why people are crying about this kove if we cant get a reasonable price. We’ve had a obviously inexperienced midfield forever now and it shows. Fofana rlc and pobega are not the answer. We need an experienced dm to play deep and help guide the youth player as they start coming in. If we can get both xhaka and ricci/frendrup, the midfield will be pretty solid with the additions of fofana, adding, bondo, and then we just need a CAM like we’ve needed since brahim left
If only we could have three Musahs on the midfield instead of experienced, proven, world-class professionals such as Modric & Xhaka, am I right? We’d be unstoppable. From relegation that is.
Have to admit he is worth the look in. I like him, he just needed time. Probably came at the wrong time when we needed players who could deliver immediately..
My post refers to the first comment about Felix. This reply thing is just not working optimally..😏
GDS stellar reporting:
“…next 48 hours will indeed be ‘decisive’ as Milan 1) must agree on the price tag with Leverkusen and 2) decide whether they should invest in a 32-year-old…”
Do we need him? Do we have the money? We have 48hrs… 🙄 Thanks for the breaking news.
Modric,xhaka,Pirlo, then try add immobile and Walker should stay too so we can win d league…this management is a joke
Nice one! Allegri is looking for immediate impact players. He want TROPHY immediately and he believe mixing the Old experience together with last season players can get him to the Top,which I personally believe. Milan will have a Strong identity this Season
IMHO we need Xhaka and Modric to build the youngsters. Blend of experience is necessary. Plus they will not cost a lot at alll in comoarison
I’m all in for us to sign experienced mid. But I think it should be either Modric or Xhaka, not both. Assuming that we’ll use that Tijani’s money to bring in a younger promising replacement, than we’re already packed.
I disagree, Modric can give us 15-20 minutes when it matters, something he has been doing at Real Madrid lately. Xhaka on the other hand can give us quite a bit both experience and playing.
For those with short term memory, we let Pirlo go when someone smarter then us thought his is past his prime (whatever the reason). He went on to give best time to someone else. I think based on the last two seasons with Leverkusen and Arsenal prior to that, he is able to do the same.
This Jashari guy is also very interesting in my opinion, and I would go for him while we can.
With Tare now in the seat, I believe that we will do well, he is known to make good transfers, and for some scetics, they all have a flop or two, but I choose to see the positives. After all this is football. We all have an opinion
Modric still provided good minutes for Madrid last season considering his age. Moreover for his country duty. His average minute / match played for Madrid was 50ish minutes last season.
Xhaka is great too. Such a complete midfielder. I believe he’ll do well in Serie A. And as for Pirlo case, that thing is in fact the one thing that makes me still hard to forgive Allegri ’till this very day.
Even if we assume Musah, RLC, and Adli gone, we’ll still have Fofana, Bondo, Modric / Xhaka, Mr. X for 2 spots (if Allegri continues the 4231). And with only 1 competition worth fighting for, we don’t need such a packed squad.
+ Musah, RLC, Adli, Isma, and Pobega
When the big ideas are Modric, Xhaka and Rabiot, we’re doomed. I’d prefer signing randos from Ligue 1 than slow, old farts.