A new name has emerged in AC Milan’s pursuit of midfield reinforcements with Lazar Samardzic of Udinese now a target, according to a report.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan have reignited their pursuit of Samardzic after previous links, a left-footed central midfielder with great quality and vision of the game, who can be used as a box-to-box player or an attacking midfielder.
He is a very different profile to Youssouf Fofana who is more physical and plays further back, leaving Milan at a crossroads. They have Fofana’s approval but they want to close the deal on their own terms, not overpaying, and that is why alternatives are being looked at.
The club have moved forward with an offer for Samardzic – both to the player and one for Udinese – less than the €20m overall that they were ready to invest for Fofana, although the source does not name the figure.
Compared to the Frenchman, Lazar is three years younger but already much more experienced in Serie A. He arrived in Udine in the summer of 2021 and has recently concluded his third season in Italy.
However, it’s time for a new adventure and that is what Samardzic will probably tell the Friuli management. His performance has grown with experience: 22 appearances and 2 goals on his debut in Serie A, 37 appearances and five goals two years ago then six goals in 34 games last season.
As we have seen both for his club and his national team, Samardzic has been used various areas of midfield and also in the playmaker role. He is the ‘wildcard’ that can allow Fonseca to vary his formations.
Last summer he could have become an Inter player. He did a medical and almost signed the contract, before the agreement fell through due to misunderstandings between his father-agent and the club, ones that Milan would have to be careful not to repeat.
Nice target. Sign him at all cost
Yes, he is the one who can change the way we play especially in midfield
Samardzic is a smart buying if the management can pull the plug on this one…He will compliment and brighten our midfield than Rabiot..
Which the management can spend for once and pull the plug on both Samardzic and Fofana.
I think Milan view him as ‘opportunity’ rather than a target, in other Word, It’s Fofana AND Samardzic instead of Fofana OR Samardzic. They have two clearly different characteristic so he is not alternative for Fofana. He will be rival for RLC in case of 4-2-3-1.
But of course, Mark my words, the negative Milan brigade will bombard this comment section with accusation that the management are dumb and have no vision, cheap, etc etc.
“But of course, Mark my words, the negative Milan brigade will bombard this comment section with accusation that the management are dumb and have no vision, cheap, etc etc.”
Well so far aside from Morata we didn’t get any deal done. We’re wasting time on Fofana and Pavlovic because we don’t want to pay an extra 5M€ per player which we will end up either paying anyways and having the player came 2 days before the beginning of the season or losing the player to a mid-table EPL team who are actually willing to pay 30M€.
So until Fofana, Pavlovic came early, I don’t see why we should be so “positive”.
Just buy someone ACM or both!
They are management with no plan and no managerial skills.
They sack Maldini and Massara?
They should have sacked themselves and the two M’s do their stuff!
Instead getting two midfielder sign one of the two mentioned players and remain with Bennacer. the team is still liking morata backup
I think 2 midfield players will leave Milan. Possibly Pobega, Adli and or Bennacer. Milan management seems determined to sign 2 midfielders. Fofana will still arrive in my opinion along with another midfielder.
So I don’t think Milan interest in Samardzic will change our pursuit of signing Fofana.
I agree, although I think Pobega will stay for the Uefa list. So I think it’s Bennacer and Adli, as both seem to have markets in Arabia, which is good since we’ll probably get max value for them. Another player who I think will eventually be a casualty of this apparent midfield overhaul, particularly if a player like Samardzic arrives, is RLC. Maybe not this summer, but certainly next summer, as his playing time will surely decline, which is bound to dissatisfy him, as it would be a repeat of his situation at Chelsea. The silver lining there is that we only paid 18m for him, so we’re not under pressure to play him to uphold his value or risk losing money.
We need to get dm players in first. Lazar is a good player but his papa seems like a snake. Is that a prerequisite attribute one needs to become an agent or what?
Whatever happened between his dad and Inter is none of our business; it doesn’t disturb our pursuit. If the management want Fofana and Lazar, good for us.
Ive said it many times before, RLC is not an AM, he is much better when used deeper. He lacks the technical intelligence to create chances from the middle of the park rather than on the flanks- which has been a problem at milan since Kaka left. We NEED BOTH FOFANA AND SAMARDZIC. and RLC SHOULD rival both Samardzic and bennacer for a spot. The issue is his father (who is his agent) might want to back big on commission
Fofana is easily a 40 million euros worth player but these clowns don’t want to spend 20 millions on him because they deem it as overspending for a player who’s in his last year of his contract.
Instead, now an AM is considered to as his alternative.
Someone in the management forgot to take his bipolar medicine.
With that collective decision-making process between at least four or five people, it must be funny to be at Casa Milan these days. It’s like a severe case of schizophrenia with Furlani, Moncada, Zlatan, Scaroni, etc. “Thuram! No, Taremi! No, Lukaku! No, Jovic! Zirkee! No, Lukaku again! No, Morata!” At least they all agree on kissing Redsht ass that’s the pillar of our unity!
Yeah it would be a lot easier if they’d go with Rock, Paper, Scissors. Would probably already have new players in house as well.
Ridiculous I know.. I sear if they could get haaland for fixed price of 20M they’d start negotiating for a discount and offer 13M and a juice box.
Saying they don’t want to overspend on him 🤦♂️
LOL
All In For Samardzic🤝
It’s difficult to go all in without any money.
Maybe if they sell Simić for 3 millions and get 5 millions from Brescianini, then they can offer their “all in” 8 millions + bonuses to Udinese. That’s a good offer right there. Right?
Straight swap with Pobega, that might work!
Yh it’s an okay for for a first offer … we need to get the best possible price … it wld surely end at 20m plus bonuses
Don’t you know? 3 AMs = 1 DM.
He’s a lovely footballer but is hardly a priority profile right now.
Anyway it’s not really an issue as I’m sure there is a club out there actually willing to pay for him and not offer half his value and ask the player to push his club for a deal
He would be amazing player playing number ten or 3 Midfield postion where he can be very useful and can attack open spaces and play between the lines.
So basically they have 20 millions to spend on the Serbian and Frenchman that combined for 40-45 millions and split their 20 evenly to get both? And now comes up a new name that cost at least 45 millions with long contract left in position that already abundant with same type of players?
It’s either the management are s2peed or this is just a hoax.