Looking at AC Milan this summer, there have been several moves made for midfielders, and even the defence has received care. However, one area is clearly lacking.
It is all well and good selling stars, but they need to be aptly replaced. In Serie A, without Champions League football, it was only going to be natural that some departed. That is not a sacrifice for the worst of the team, but instead a sacrifice for the long-term future of the club. Perhaps the management could have been risky and tried to keep a star.
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However, doing so would likely mean that other areas could not be addressed as they should have been. Something which is still plaguing the Rossoneri now, and very clearly so.
Put it this way, with the sale of Tijjani Reijnders alone, the midfield was rebuilt. Then, Theo Hernandez’s sale brought a pair of full-backs.
That leaves two holes. Malick Thiaw then left for defensive stability to arrive, though this has not shown just yet after a 2-1 defeat to Cremonese on the opening day of the new Serie A campaign. However, this highlighted another gaping issue.
Current options
The other is then the forward line. Milan, clearly, have one very sellable asset, but losing Rafael Leao is like taking a lemon to a knife fight. You don’t, quite simply. Put simply, the frontline does not have any mid-tier sell-to-buy assets, or at least not transferable ones.
Selling Christian Pulisic does not bring enough to replace the American and (big keyword) bring in a ‘proper forward’. Also, doing so does not really strengthen the attack; it just shifts the issue. Same with Leao, you do not find another Leao for the price, at least not easily or happily.
Santiago Gimenez should then not be sold just a few months after arriving – so, you’re in a vicious loop there already – but the markets from Goal.com show that faith is not there for him to be among the top goalscorers in the division this year. A worry in itself.
Ending it this summer?
As of the last week of August, Milan look set to sign Conrad Harder, a young striker from Denmark, previously likened to Viktor Gyokeres. Again, the Diavolo are looking to take a risk when perhaps there is a more suitable option there.
It can certainly pay off, both on and off the pitch, and if it does, perhaps the crisis ends. Until then, though, it may be a while before the Rossoneri can leave this cycle.
