A crucial summer transfer window is coming up for AC Milan, and some ideas have begun to emerge regarding how the squad can be strengthened.
This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes that Stefano Pioli will have more say in the players that arrive and depart, working in conjunction with chief scout Geoffrey Moncada and waiting for the final word of CEO Giorgio Furlani.
It will be a sharing of ideas and every decision will be made collectively, with Pioli having more freedom to identify the roles that need strengthening and to highlight the targets he thinks will do best.
Midfield
The first step will be to indicate the areas of the pitch that need reinforcements. The defence is well covered given Malick Thiaw’s emergence, so the work will start from midfield especially after Ismael Bennacer’s injury.
The Algerian will only return in November and then in January he could then participate in the African Cup of Nations, meaning he could be missing for a large chunk of the 2023-24 campaign.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek was a target that Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara wanted, but given Pioli’s approval he is a name could come back into fashion in the next few days. However, Chelsea need to decide to grant the discount on the €25m asking price.
Playmaker
It is clear that after Brahim Diaz’s departure the team needs a new creative fore between the lines, and Daichi Kamada – already approved by the coach – is not necessarily enough.
The Japan international will arrive as soon as the agents untie some bureaucratic knots but there is also the possibility of another No.10 arriving.
For this reason, the profile of Tommaso Baldanzi is particularly appreciated because he talented and already knows Serie A we,, making him the perfect identikit of the Rossoneri’s project.
He could certainly enhance his potential with Milan – who are his boyhood club – given that he is just 20 years of age and scored four goals in Serie A last season, two less than Brahim Diaz.
Right wing
Moving out to the right flank, Pioli will ask for some improvements to be made. It is the same area he moved Brahim Diaz to because he was dissatisfied with the performance of Junior Messias and Alexis Saelemaekers.
The road leads back to London where Christian Pulisic is a target. The 24-year-old has had an eight-year career equally divided between Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea, with 127 appearances and 19 goals in Germany, then 145 games and 26 goals in England.
He has a Croatian citizenship and an American passport, so he could be useful both for the quality that he brings but also the fact that he would provide a boost to the Milan brand in the United States.
Centre-forward
Marcus Thuram is a target for the striker role. He scored 16 goals in 32 games last season for Borussia Mönchengladbach, one every two games, and he will leave the Bundesliga when his contract expires but there is competition from PSG.
The alternative lead leads to Ismaila Sarr, the 25-year-old Watford star who can play either as a winger or centre-forward. He has a value of €20m+, but that is discounted thanks to the fact he has a contract expiring next summer.
