AC Milan have found Malick Thiaw’s replacement quickly in Koni De Winter, but he might not be the only centre-back to arrive.
As Tuttosport report (via MilanNews), Milan are finalising the final details with Genoa and will then welcome De Winter – who was also in Inter’s sights – to the city for a medical and to sign the contract.
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Milan’s move was a real blitz, and in just a few hours they’ve found the replacement for Thiaw. Massimiliano Allegri will therefore have a new central defender, one he knows well having given him he debut in the Champions League at Juventus in 2021-22.
An agreement in principle between the Rossoneri and Genoa has been reached at around €20m, and the white smoke is expected today. However, more moves could follow.
Another defender to arrive?
De Winter might not be the only defensive addition for Milan in this final stretch of the summer transfer window. Allegri has worked extensively on the three-man defence in recent weeks, and who knows, perhaps a 3-5-2 could ultimately be the Rossoneri’s starting formation this season.
Four central defenders (Matteo Gabbia, Strahinja Pavlovic, Fikayo Tomori and De Winter) won’t be enough for the entire year, so it’s likely the club will sign another player in that area of the pitch.
Ruling out expensive names like Leoni and Comuzzo, Milan are monitoring several options such as Caleb Okoli, who is leaving Leicester, and Berat Djimsiti, whose contract with Atalanta expires in 2026. Igli Tare could also look at surplus options at top clubs around Europe.
Woww another Tare compatriots will join Milan. Hehehe…
At least they have defender with full experience. Comuzzo / leoni?? Over hyped from Italian media 😆😂💰💰🍻
Comuzzo
With this budget, we should have gone for Goglichidze from Empoli. Udinese got him for 8M.
Another CB that can play as RB.
How will Leao, Pulisic, Chuckwueze fit in a 3-5-2? Okafor can play striker. I guess he can try Leao there as well but I dont see him working out there very well unless we gonna lay really low with the whole team and do counterattacks.
Signing all those midfielders, no CBs then still be forced to play Pulisic as a CM? Doesnt seem very smart too me.
All summer they been signing for a 4-3-3
Pulisic was used as a box-crasher, so yeah a CM. his natural replacement being RLC and most likely Modric.
Ricci and Fofana will be the metronomes while Jashari and whoever will replace Musah will be completing the midfield.
Leao already played well up top as a forward. So it’s gonna be Leao, Gimenez, Hojlund and Okafor up top, when we will be playing 3-5-2.
Against Chelsea, allegri put leao for lone striker. It’s not work well. He’s winger / forward that support our strikers ( gimenez )
I think it will be way for fluid, changing between 4-3-3 and 3-5-2 through the game, but I never said he would be ST, he can operate well as SS
I guess they can play 3-4-2-1 like we did in the end of last season which worked really well. Then Leao and Pulisic play like two attacking midfielders or supportive strikers behind Gimenez.
They can also go out wide to spread the defense and turn it into a 3-4-3 when needed. And when we defend it turns into a 5-4-1.
My only concern is that it only leave room for two real central midfielders (Jashari and Ricci with Fofana/Modric as backup). The two AM/SS could also be substituted for two CMs and a bit more defensive outlook I guess. I assume Modric and R-L-C will be used as alternatives to Leao/Pulisic for this to close games.
Starting 11 would look something like (3-4-2-1)-
Maignan
Tomori-Gabbia-Pavlovic
Saelesmaekers-Ricci-Jashari-Estupinan
Pulisic-Leao
Gimenez
Bench would be something like (3-4-2-1)-
Terracciano
De Winter-New defender-(Bartesaghi)
Jimenez-Modric-Fofana-Bartesaghi
Chuckwueze-Loftus Cheek
Okafor/New forward
Mainly lacking a central defender and a pure striker for depth. Okafor will also be somewhat dead weight if he plays one central attacker with two supportive strikers and a new CF arrives.
Im assuming Terracciano and Bondo joins Cremonese and Musah joins Napoli.
If Athekame arrives this make Jimenez sort of dead weight. Dunno if that signing is needed if we keep both Jimenez and Saelesmaekers…
He missed a few chances 2 offside goals he scored and we were 10 men since the 20th minute you can’t judge the Chelsea game as it didn’t work well….
Pulisic won’t fit into a 3-5-2, not at the same time as Leao anyway. I’ve been raising this alarm for weeks. Leao will start in the attacking 2 with Gimenez or whoever. Pulisic is not a wingback or a central midfielder. The only space he will have is a sub/alternate for Leao. Watch this space as this could cause drama over the course of the season. Pulisic may as to depart in 2026, but if Allegri is smart, he might just manage it so that Pulisic doesn’t become unhappy and then Leao is sold in 2026 because that’s when he’ll have two years left on contract and all that.
En pré-saison notre seule victoire c’est lorsqu’on a joué en 4-3-3 alors pourquoi vouloir absolument jouer en 3-5-2 tout en sachant que les recrutements ont été fait en fonction d’un milieu à 3
Je pense pour ma part que jouer à 3 derrière n’est pas envisageable
We could still shop in Genoa, Alessandro Marcandalli and Sebastian Otoa could be bought, either of them are really good and young players…
Djimsiti is cheaper but personally I prefer a defender like Oumar Solet from Udinese a commanding type of defender or someone like Christensen from Barcelona depending on his wage . But Djimsiti is a good option too.
Exactly as I thought. However, 3 man back line suits this team.
De Winter/Tomori – Gabbia/Djim – Pavlo/Bart
It’s from defense up that raises questions for me. 343/3421 would be better suited to these players than 352.
Bart isn’t much of a CB nor is he much of a wide player. I don’t even know what his strong position is. Also, it’s interesting that Max hasn’t started Gabbia in the last two games opting for the likes of Coubis instead. might be a telling sign.
We need another CB.
I disagree. Bartesaghi has always given CB IMHO. He’s never quite had a chance as the left outside CB in a 3 CB formation and I think he would do well as the LCB alternate to Pavlovic. He doesn’t need to be a starter, just competent enough for substitute appearances and spot starts in case of injury or suspension. I think he can do it.
None of those names inspire. May aswell go for Tomiyasu on a free even if hes been slightly injury prone.
No not Gym City 😭
Im surprised we haven’t attempted to see if Parma would accept a loan for Leoni with option to make it permanent. I’d much sooner go for Djimsiti on that list, last thing we need is someone from that absolute train wreck of a Leicester side that couldnt keep a clean sheets to save their lives ad one of the worst epl teams ever