AC Milan now believe the sale of Theo Hernandez will go through and the replacement is already lined up: Oleksandr Zinchenko from Arsenal.
Corriere dello Sport report this morning how everything revolves around the sale of Theo, but Milan are already working behind the scenes to find a replacement for the left-back. While the Frenchman is on holiday in Sardinia with his family, the Rossoneri hope to soon unblock his sale to Al-Hilal.
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There are two immediate solutions on the table to replace him. Sporting director Igli Tare recently had contact with intermediaries who are managing the exit of Zinchenko from Arsenal, an experienced player who could take up Hernandez’s legacy if he finds a place over the summer.
The Ukrainian is appreciated by the directors and could arrive for a figure under €20m, considering the season he hasn’t exactly been a protagonist with the Gunners and the contract expiring in exactly one year. Zinchenko is open to the Rossoneri, the only obstacle would be the high salary.
This is being discussed with his agents, but to relaunch himself, the former Manchester City player could choose Italy and spread his current salary over several years. Before closing any deal in the left-back department, Theo would need to leave.
The alternative
Tare and Geoffrey Moncada’s list isn’t just one name long though, because the club have been following Belgian Maxim De Cuyper of Club Brugge for some time. He is a very interesting player, who has improved a lot in the attacking phase, and in fact Roma have also made a move.
In the next few days an auction could break out between Tare and the former Milan sporting director Frederic Massara , who recently returned to the Giallorossi. De Cuyper is ready for the big leap and is pushing to reach Serie A.
Three years ago, Milan signed Charles De Ketelaere from Club Bruges for around €35m including bonuses, while recently they made an enquiry for Swiss midfielder Ardon Jashari but the price is really high, over €40m.
The certainty is that the management has shown Theo the door and want to sell him. On the table are €30m plus various bonuses from Milan, while the player will receive over €15m in net salary per year. Simone Inzaghi has asked for a full-back and knows that Al-Hilal are working hard.
Theo plays 4000 minutes and is not injury prone. Management blew it with the extension.
Zinchenko is injury prone so we will need another player or let Bartezaghi get the chance to play.
Would’ve been cheaper to keep Theo, let Bartezaghi get more playing time to rest Theo more and spend money on other positions.
Mykolenko (final year, he would cost similar price and not be injury prone) > Zinchenko
But there are still way better players out there:
Gutierrez, Esputian, Kardioglu, DeCuyper…
I think we should only forcus on these 5!
Dodo/Wesley/Vanderson are all good option for RB within our budget also. This solves fullbacks!
With Guerra, Modric, Xhaka being the 3/4 of new midfielders… Wieffer or Ricci and complete our midfield at last.
Thiaw will likely be sacrificial sale with Theo to quickly generate 60M… Leoni is the only name that has been circling and I really hope that we get him!
If midfield and defense is solved, attack will also stabilize!
Dreadful player. This cripple is their big idea?
Theo out the door, as many wishes. I was wondering who would step in at his place, and i wasn’t expecting any excitement at all
I don’t believe in zinchenko at all.due to age and salary and not defending well.better if we think of experienced player to go for Robertson from liver before atletico. He is much better but could be little expensive
I am not allowing myself to get mad over this, but I hope this doesn’t go through. I’d take him as a free agent, but paying 20m is nonsense with a contract expiring in 1 year. Plus he probably has huge salary expectations.
Age, poor defensively, Injury prone, played very few minutes, no resale value, huge salary, cost 20M. Extension for theo is far less costly.
The risks and cost are too much.
If we continue with the 343/3421 then Jimenez, bertasaghi and salad can cover that position.
Invest that money in to get top midfielders & buy out Jimenez. Sign or loan a backup or promote a fullback from Futuro.
We covered in that position for 1 game per week season
I wouldn’t mind him being an option for us as a player, he’s excellent on form, but we can’t be paying 20M for him surely? He’s got a year left, is their third or fourth choice, doesn’t have great injury record recently and they’ve completely paid off their original investment so it’s all CG
Here you go. A replacement you deserve.
that’s such a dumb logic… sorry but Theo was wanted by which EU clubs again?! Atletico isn’t getting him for 15M and the rest need someone that defends, Theo isn’t built for that…
What’s the matter? Are you not entertained? You will soon enjoy Theo’s replacement chosen by non other than the same group of clowns that brought us Emerson.
Which logic? How is your comment connected to this article or his comment? Zinchenko is a s**t player. Doesn’t matter who he replaces.
Such a dumb move…so much for italianizing this team!
What does Bartesaghi need to do to get a chance – i was watching Ital u21 yesterday and the boys showed so much belief and courage to hold it 1-1 with 9 men to 118 min so much better than these senior crap italians – trust in youth!! Stop with these nothing foreign players. All for any players that are not Italian but if they are world class…
Italian clubs are so short sighted, they only look at Italian players after they leave Serie A. Barteshagi is excellent at youth level. He has a good final ball, is big, strong and athletic. We’re not in Europe. Give the boy a chance.
Fully agree, like watch Milan become interested in coppola when he becomes a 30-40m player!
Extremely depressing. All these targets are taking me back to 2012 era.
Never trust these guys to replace players. It’s probably one of the reasons I’d prefer to keep the old stock. At least there was some sense that went into building that team!
Emerson on the right and Emersenko on the Left. Sounds on point.
Zinchenko??? LOLOLOLOLO 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. What a fkn DOWNGRADE
At least get a Cambiasso or Udoggie. WTF
BUT This is what happens when you have NO PLAN OR PROJECT. You just go after the CHEAPEST PLAYER. And Zinchenko is the Cheapest of all those targets.
What a fkn 🤡🤡🤡 show.
I cannot believe Allegri would be ok with this. We seriously risk not making UCL AGAIN.
Wow