After weeks of deliberating on their strategy for the defensive department, it seems AC Milan have finally settled on how to proceed in the coming days and months.
According to MilanNews, Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara know they have five days to get a new centre-back in. Eric Bailly and Abdou Diallo can be crossed off the list because Milan do not have another non-EU spot to occupy the former and PSG will not loan out the latter, so there are two targets on the list.
The management are planning a Lazetic-style signing – i.e. a young player who would arrive in a low-cost deal and can grow into a start for the future – with Malick Thiaw of Schalke and Maxime Esteve of Montpellier in the viewfinder.
The German U21 international would cost €8-10m and the Rossoneri will have to overcome the competition from Liverpool, while Esteve is having a breakout season in Ligue 1 and would also command a fee that is not miniscule.
Then, the attention will drift to five months away and the summer transfer window when Maldini and Massara will try to get Stefano Pioli a starter. Sven Botman of Lille and Gleison Bremer of Torino are the two main names, but Milan will be able to take advantage of good relations with the owners of both and the discussions already started during the current transfer window.
READ MORE: Style, strengths, weaknesses and numbers – Analysing if Botman would be a good fit for Milan
Omeragic instead hopefully for a young talent
I now prefer Botman over Bremer. We will see.