As the games tick by and the summer transfer window approaches, more concrete information continues to emerge regarding the areas in which the management will act.
The 3-3 draw against Sassuolo yesterday at the Mapei Stadium arguably showed exactly what Milan are lacking in their squad and why they have been unable to rotate effectively this season, at least compared to runaway league leaders Inter.
Simon Kjaer and Alessandro Florenzi started on the right side of the defence and they did not manage to deal with Armand Lauriente at all with the winger netting a brace, while Andrea Pinamonti scored the opening goal.
Luka Jovic struggled starting up front on his own and then Olivier Giroud had to come off the bench to try salvage a draw from the game, though he is expected to depart in the summer window.
Pietro Mazzara has provided an update on Milan’s mercato plans during his weekly column for MilanNews, confirming who the number one striker target is.
“Transfer notes here and there: Milan has Joshua Zirkzee as the number one profile on the list for the centre-forward, because he is a player who already knows the Italian league and who is ready to take the next step,” he said.
“A defensive midfielder will also be taken who can provide greater filtering in front of the defence, just as another central defender and a right-back will be needed, because the physical-individual data gaps of Florenzi and Kjaer together with Thiaw’s technical ones open up the debate in those portions of the pitch.”
Zirzkzee is not the type of striker we need. He is a fantastic creative forward, but he is not a 20 +goal a season player. Not even 15. His shooting is below average, he does bot attack the box enough. He is another Leao playing n9.
He would be perfect for Inter or Juventus that play with 2 forwards. But we need a pure n9.
Exactly!
What if Zirkzee is not to be a pure striker but to compete as AM also? He theoretically would be compatible with either of Jovic and Okafor by dropping deeper and playing as AM (like Ibra when he played with Giroud) and he can also play as ST with Loftus Cheek or Pulisic in the AM spot.
I wouldn’t be surprised if PL teams come knocking for Loftus Cheek, and we’d need to think of a replacement at that point. Pulisic can play as AM, but our aim has been to get a tall physical AM (CDK, RLC)
A concern I have with Zirkzee is that he hasn’t seemed very motivated in doing a proper pressing (a bit like Leao) and we’d either need to change style or a high pressing wouldn’t be able to have both of them in the team.
But yeah, I don’t think that Zirkzee makes us a Serie A winner. It’s more likely for that to happen with us buying a new Kessie or a new Kjaer.
u mean Zee to be our new CDK? do u remember how it’s end-up?
Pioli doesn’t use SS (CDK/ Zee) & DM
This is media bluff. Zirkzee it’s good player but Milan no need player like this. They should go for classic no. 9 like boniface or Jesse ngankam from bundesliga. Milan need striker for giroud replacement. If you watch bologna vs Monza yesterday, he’s doing nothing after 90 minutes. Winger striker Milan already have leao and okafor. Once again, this is only media bluff…
Sassuolo game needs to be used as an example for defensive reinforcements and upgrades. Not Offensive ones. We had 5 upfront and had it notbeen for ridiculous offsides, we were walking away with a victory…
But we played ZERO defense and one midfielder LOL!!! No balance this season. DeZerbi football at its finest.
Never going to happen – but :
Scammaca, Scalvini/Buongiorno, Ricci and we don’t need RB, time to use Terraciano, don’t need any cheap French/German imports
Honestly we should just do a package deal with Atalanta.
Scamacca, Scalvini and Ederson for CDK, Thiaw and Musah + 50m
It’s good to shop local!
The players won’t even need to move house
Truly doubt that Musah will be sold, he won’t need to be in the Serie A lists (next year he’s still considered as U21), Cardinale wants him to become as good as possible for visibility in U.S, and management won’t accept to sell a player one year after he was bought or it wouldn’t look good on them.
I doubt Atalanta would pay good money for Thiaw or Musah. Their evaluations are probably like
Scamacca – 35mill +, Scalvini -50 mill+, Ederson – 45mill+
CDK – 23mill, Thiaw – 15~20mill, Musah – 15mill. Without an additional 70 mill they won’t sit on the table…
Dude you want to shop in atalanta store and hoping get 3 player with exchange trash player like thiaw ???? Atalanta would prefer cash than thiaw ,yunus or even CDK . Shopping in atalanta never cheap
It was tongue in cheek.
Anyway Atalanta like to develop players and Thiaw is a very talented young player (I hope we keep him)
Same with Musah.
They can keep CDK
Thiaw are ” very talented young player” . I dont know how to comment anymore, this season he look like another jherson vergara or paletta from banter era . After mistake and mistake that cost poin for ACM , im doubt gasperini want to fix him . Scamacca probably 50m euro ( atalanta buy 20m euro from westham ) , it is imposible atalanta want to sell scamacca 30m euro after they success sell rasmus 70m euro in just one season
I like this idea. All of them are Serie A proven players.
The main issue of Milan is not the attacking side, but the defensive one. A potent DM is needed to shield the defenders and help regulate the rhythm of the game. Also a better defender would be a good idea, and could be bought with the money of Thiaw and Kalulu. As right-back Jimenez should be made use of. He can’t develop his game on the bench or by playing against kids/Serie C- level opponents.
The attack is where Milan actually need less investment at the moment. Leao, Pulisic and Chukwueze have enough creativity and Milan have rarely lacked goals. If Milan buy, they should buy a classic 9, the kind of Sesko. He is scoring and will score more as he reaches his mature years. Zirkzee is a wrong target. He is not the kind of player Milan need. His strength is linkup play and creativity, and Milan have creativity in the form of Leao, Pulisic and Chuk. Zirkzee is not the kind of goalscorer who can take Milan to the next level. It is hilarious that Milan are even considering him for replacing Giroud. Zirkzee would be a good addition for Inter though since he can combine with Lautaro.
100% agree about Zirkzee and Sesko
The best striker we can get is Sesko, a real number 9, young with great future ahead.
Release clause is 50M, similiar price asked for Zirkzee.