AC Milan are currently in the middle of a tense battle for the Scudetto but programming is already underway to shape next season’s squad.
La Gazzetta dello Sport speaks of purchases, sales, redemptions, reflections, negotiations and evaluations – and that is just for the attacking department. At the moment there are only two players guaranteed of a spot next year: Rafael Leao and Alexis Saelemaekers. The rest, therefore, are battling for their future.
Brahim Diaz’s situation is unclear. We are two months from the end of his first of the two years on loan from Real Madrid, and it is difficult to have any certainty about what the future holds for the playmaker, but Milan could try and use his dip in form to negotiation a figure lower than the €22m optioned to buy.
Evaluations are ongoing on Junior Messias too. The Brazilian has arrived from Crotone on a one-year loan and Milan will soon have to make a decision on his €5.4m option to buy (in addition to the €2.6m paid for his loan). The winger will turn 31 in May and €9m in total for a player of that age is a move that Elliott Management in principle would question.
In terms of potential signings, Noa Lang is a name on Milan’s list. He is a talented 22-year-old at Club Brugge usually used on the left wing but also able to act centrally. The name for the right wing is Domenico Berardi, though a discount on the price set by Sassuolo would be needed. The return of Yacine Adli from his loan at Bordeaux should be remembered too.
Then we move to sales, where Samu Castillejo is no longer part of the Rossoneri’s project moving forward and is practically certain to leave. We must also pay attention to Ante Rebic’s situation as he is now firmly second in the left wing pecking order while in the prime of his career.
A mon avis, Il faut se séparer et de façon définitive des joueurs suivants pour insuffisance technique:
Junior MESSIAS
Davide CALABRIA
Daniele MALDINI
Samu CASTELLIJO
Matteo GABIA
Radu KRUNIC
Simon KAJER
Doesn’t Diaz have another year left on his loan?
Signing Messias for that amount looks high, but it’s probably similar to a loan fee for that time. Assuming he’s on a very low wage, time to start looking at each player’s cost per season.
I also wouldn’t guarantee Leao would be here. I’m sure he’s in the plans, but if the club wanted to raise some funds this would be the prime time to find a buyer for him.
We must keep rebic