AC Milan are looking to build the best possible defensive department heading into the 2022-23 season with work underway on multiple fronts, a report claims.
Calciomercato.com looks at the strategy of the management starting with renewals. Matteo Gabbia will soon extend with an agreement reached until 2026, but above all Theo Hernandez will also extend until 2026 with a pay rise from €1.5m net per season to €4m with an announcement possible next week.
There is the possibility of renewing Pierre Kalulu’s deal too but there is no urgency as his current contract expires in 2026, while uncertainty reigns over Alessio Romagnoli’s future. The offer put forward by Maldini and Massara is €3.5m a year until 2025 or 2026, which is a pay cut from the current €6m. It has been on the table for several weeks, but there has not been a response and optimism is fading.
The future of Alessandro Florenzi will also have to be decided given that his loan expires at the end of the season but the Rossoneri have the chance to sign him permanently for a relatively small fee given the €4m option to buy they have.
There will also be signings to bolster the department, even if time is running out to get one through the door in January. Malick Thiaw is the most concrete target, but Schalke want €10m which is way above the current €6m on the table from Milan. Maxime Esteve of Montpellier and Mattia Viti of Empoli are also admired.
There will be a big name signing too in the summer and Sven Botman of Lille is the main name. Milan received the total approval of the Dutchman who refused other interest in the hopes of joining the Rossoneri, and an agreement with the player is already in place over terms, with a deal expected to be €27m rising to €33m with bonuses.
READ MORE: Two targets fade for Milan as management may stick with current options
Would much rather we bought florenzi than messias