AC Milan are still looking for a centre-back who could arrive in January, but they are doing so without any real sense of urgency.
According to Calciomercato.com, the head coach Massimiliano Allegri believes they need a central defender with experience and leadership to bolster the department. The management are looking for an opportunity on loan, which is not easy and has led to a stalemate that will likely persist.
At Casa Milan headquarters, the hope is to find a sudden chance to seize as the final whistle blows in this winter transfer window.
Defender difficulties
The players offered so far by agents and other clubs haven’t received Igli Tare’s full approval. Chelsea’s Axel Disasi isn’t entirely convincing, nor is Portuguese player Diogo Leite of Union Berlin, both of whom have been proposed to the Rossoneri.
Federico Gatti’s chances of arriving have plummeted despite Juventus practically putting him on the market because, given his characteristics, he doesn’t fit into Luciano Spalletti’s plans. A potential counter-part has yet to be agreed upon, with Milan reluctant to invest €25-30m to land Gatti now.
Murillo, a Brazilian defender currently playing for Nottingham, is one of the players being closely monitored, but only for the summer window. Both Tare and Geoffrey Moncada appear to be big admirers of his.
Liverpool’s Joe Gomez remains a top choice for Milan, who intend to make contact with the Reds soon. The directors will continue to be active in the Premier League, looking for a defender with talent and leadership, but at a bargain price.
Milan are closely monitoring the steady growth of Tiago Gabriel, a key figure in Lecce’s defence. The Portuguese U21 international – who did well at San Siro on Sunday – is expected to make a move only in June, and only for a very significant offer.
There have certainly been some discussions between the two clubs, but nothing concrete enough to spark a full-blown negotiation. Another player particularly appreciated by Tare is Lazio’s Mario Gila, but again he is more a name for June.
Murillo or even Lucumi/Gila would be huge in the summer (if we get either, might be worth the wait)
I think Alexis sub and replacement of RLC is more important right now.
Timber is great and cheap option, has stamina, grit, pushes the ball up field, box-crasher… everything what RLC isn’t…
Cuffy would be an interesting addition
Which Timber, Jurrien? because he’s far from a cheap option.
ffs, there are 2 Timbers…
yeah that’s why i asked which one, no need to get salty
Our season is a mere 17 games long now – let’s not do anything rash in January.
We need cover on the flanks, and if they can play either side that would free up Bartesaghi to play LCB when needed. That should be the focus. Then Gatti or Gabriel in the summer.
17 games….
Fortini from Fiorentina can play both flanks, has limited experience but never looked out of place
with his addition we can even sell Estupinan in the summer
I’m gonna say it….Terracciano
Murilo will cost 35-40 mil I don’t think Milan will spend this amount on a backup defender
backup? he’s better than Tomori and Gabbia
Pavlovic-Gabbia-Murillo
I know he is good and young too but they are looking for a backup centre back, maybe in the summer if one of them leaves but even so they won’t pay that much
Nottingham would almost certainly not want to sell Murillo, and if they did, there would be other interested parties from the Premiership so the price would probably have to be a lot higher!
I love them, but Pavlovic-Gabbia-Tomori are not a Champions league trio. They need increase the level at CB if they are serious to move through the knockout stages of Champions league. Gabbia/Pavlovic are solid backups but not starters for champions league semi final game.
Champions League semi final? Well aren’t we ambitious.
WE ARE MILAN!
Disasi no
Leite no
Gatti no
Murillo yeah
Joe Gomez no
Tiago Gabriel yeah
Gila yeah
Raid Lazio for Gila or Fiorentina for Comuzzo. Raid Atalanta for Ederson to replace RLC. All these teams will need cash if they don’t qualify for Europe, which the first two are odds on not to. Kristensen or Solet of Udinese are good secondary options for defense. We need Serie A experience, not Belgian or Austrian no-names or PL deadwood. This Murillo guy has a market value of 55M, so forget it. We need to spend big at striker, not CB, where we can find more value options. Also, has anyone checked out Murillo’s height? The dude is 1.80M/5′ 9″. What are we going to do with shorty? Put him in the middle of a three man defense?
Yes, it would be madness to sign a short CB. Atalanta always get big money for their players. I don’t think Ederson is leaving for less than €50 million and he’s been linked to Atletico Madrid.
Oof, yeah I just saw something on Ederson being close to Atl. Madrid. It’s unfortunate. Although I think if he’d lasted until the summer his price might have been more around 30-40M given that his contract is up in 2027.