Moretto: Milan ‘change strategy’ in right-back hunt – interest in Young Boys star confirmed

Matteo Moretto has confirmed that Zachary Athekame is a target for AC Milan, who could change their right-back strategy.

Guela Doue is the name that has been most frequently linked with Milan this summer as the potential heir to Kyle Walker, Alessandro Florenzi and Emerson Royal. However, progress has been difficult to achieve given the high asking price that Strasbourg have set.

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While also struggling on the midfielder and striker front, there have been some suggestions that Igli Tare and co. could decide to reshuffle the budget in order to focus more on the other two positions rather than the defence.

‘Evaluating him internally’

Speaking on Fabrizio Romano’s YouTube channel, Matteo Moretto gave an update on Milan’s hunt for a new right-back and he confirmed the earlier report from La Gazzetta dello Sport about a new target from Switzerland.

“We have confirmation on the name revealed in the last few hours by Gazzetta dello Sport for the right-back role at AC Milan. We told you in recent days that the Rossoneri’s idea for this position was changing,” he said (via MilanNews).

“Doué is the name they like the most, but at the moment he is unattainable for financial reasons, given that Strasbourg are always asking for €30m, and for reasons of relationship, because behind the French club are the owners of Chelsea, whose relationship with Milan is currently a bit chilly.

“Milan has therefore decided to change strategy and look for new profiles of young and more economically accessible right-backs. And on this list is also Zachary Athekame, a 2004-born right-back from Young Boys, with whom he has a contract until 2029.

“His entire short career has developed in Switzerland, but he has already played in the Champions League, facing two Italian teams, namely Inter and Atalanta. Athekame is highly regarded, and Milan are evaluating him internally.

“But, he’s not the only name on the Rossoneri’s list: there are other young players like him who need to be developed. We’ll see if Milan decides to make a concrete offer to Young Boys in the coming days, but I can confirm that Athekame is a player that Via Aldo Rossi [the headquarters] really like.”