MN: Milan see Empoli playmaker as a fit for the project with exchange deal possible

By Oliver Fisher -

AC Milan are interested in Empoli playmaker Tommaso Baldanzi but face competition and must resolve some other doubts first, a report claims.

According to MilanNews, Lazio, Napoli and Roma as well as teams abroad are keen on signing Baldanzi who has four goals in 18 league appearances for Empoli this season, but it is the Rossoneri who are constantly following his games with particular attention.

The player is considered a fit for the Rossoneri’s project as his cost would be around €10-20m, he knows Serie A and he has a lot of room to grow. The current ideal is to offer Maikol Cifuentes from the youth sector, who has never hit his stride due to injuries but is liked by Empoli and has a deal expiring in June 2024.

Baldanzi was a Milan fan growing up but it will be necessary to understand what his role with the team would be. The Diavolo are awaiting news on the Brahim Diaz front, given that Real Madrid are pressing to bring him back to the Bernabeu, while Yacine Adli is an unknown factor.

If both left it would leave only Charles De Ketelaere for the attacking midfielder role, and then Baldanzi would be the ideal signing because he is able to cover multiple roles.

Tags AC Milan Tommaso Baldanzi

12 Comments

  1. My concern with Baldanzi is the lack of obvious physical tools, such as speed, strength and size, that he could fall back onto when faced with the increased pressure and attention that comes with being #10 at a side competing for the Scudetto and playing Champions League.

    I am not saying it means Baldanzi cannot be world class, because he has some elite qualities (and for example Dybala has no obvious physical tools but incredible technical ability and vision), but there are real reasons to think he cannot be.

    These are the sorts of things that saw Pirlo’s role converted to that of deep lying playmaker. I look at a guy like Zaniolo and he’s 6’3, can fight with and off just about anyone and he’s quick. When things aren’t working he can still scrap and fight his way into a game. Even if he is not finishing there is always something he is bringing to the table. It’s much the same for Sergej M-S at Lazio. Baldanzi is a player who is given the ball. Even Brahim plays with dynamism and uses his speed to make things happen without relying on others.

    We are talking about €15-20m for a guy who is nowhere near a sure thing. He’s not starting #10 for Pioli next year. AC Milan does not have the money for that.

    I also then finding myself asking a question I have asked many times in the last week: how does ‘this guy’ compare with what Daniel Maldini is currently doing and where it looks like Maldini will be by the end of the season.

    My detailed thoughts on Maldini since his goal against Inter and the follow up performance against Sassuolo are here: https://sempremilan.com/liverpool-newcastle-milan-real-madrid-brahim-diaz

    As much as I love the idea of a young Italian playmaker, I’d pass on Baldanzi.

    1. I completely agree with you. I don’t think we need a playmaker when we already have CDK. We can invest the same amount for a RW. Maybe Berardi could be a good option.

      1. “We don’t need a playmaker because we already have CDK”.
        That’s like saying we don’t need a back up left back and back up GK because we already have Ballo Toure and Tatarusanu.
        We don’t have anything in CDK except for a €32 mil hole in our budget

      2. Thats the thing, Baldanzi can also play as a RW. And for that price you won’t really find a really good RW. Baldanzi is more like a gamble, but a gamble that has a potential to be world class.

      3. I wouldn’t say we don’t need a play maker / AM.

        I don’t believe that is where CDK’s future lies. All evidence to date is that he is a forward. That’s where he played for Brugge when he made a name for himself. The guys at SM did that great breakdown using the heat maps that show he doesn’t take up the positions of an AM.

        I also have reservations about the way he plays the game. To my mind he doesn’t handle the 360 degrees of play in the midfield well at all. He gets closed down. The times he gets past defenders, it is almost staggering that the defenders didn’t see it coming.

        If it were up to me CDK would be the starting forward for the rest of the season (perhaps with the exception of Champions League).

        It would be a real risk to spend €15-20m on Baldanzi given the number of holes in our squad, and the issues I have described above.

        1. “All evidence to date is that he is a forward. ”

          Like the goals he’s scored? 😀 He can’t even put the ball into an empty net from 0,5m out. He’s slow, he’s weak, he lacks the goal scorers instinct, his headers are awful. So what makes you think he’s a forward?

  2. If just 10m euro + player primavera , then i suggest take that baldanzi and return brahim to Real Madrid. Baldanzi should compete with adili and CDK in 433 or 4231 as AMF . But if empoli want 20m euro, better skip baldanzi and go for frattesi ( change formation to 433)

  3. we need playmaker who can hold and distribution ball like bennacer. milan only play attack from winger and then confuse at the midfield coz diaz isnt like playmaker and too sloppy and CdK not much play…

  4. milan need two player like bennacer on the field. i guess ounas or berardi can fit. tonali cant be that coz he only play with right footed. hehe…

  5. For Milan,we are tired . No replacement for a player and you released him ( F KESSIE). Look back at selling of kaka’s jersey. Since after that,who else? The board should think deeply,it’s not about this one is good,that one is good. Milan board needs to look for the best to give PIOLI . MILAN HAVE BEEN LOSING PLAYERS TO OTHER CLUBS BECAUSE OF ONE OR TWO MILLION EURO DIFFERENCE… please,the names MILAN IS DETERIORATING. PLEASE, BOARD WORK, PLEASE. THANKS.

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