AC Milan’s plan for Alexis Saelemaekers has changed as he has been taken off the market by the management, according to a report.
As we wrote about in a recent feature, the USA tour was always going be very useful for Fonseca to assess the squad and bring some clarity regarding some players that are perhaps more on the fringes, while waiting for the internationals and potential new signings.
Saelemaekers returned from his season-long loan at Bologna after they did not use their option to buy him permanently, with the assumption being that he would be sold elsewhere, yet he has instead had quite a central role in preseason and Paulo Fonseca heavily praised him.
According to the latest from MilanNews, the Rossoneri have changed their plans for Saelemaekers: the club now want to keep the Belgian, who has impressed Fonseca a lot, and only an offer well above €15m could change their minds.
In light of this decision, a possible exchange deal involving Tammy Abraham does not seem to be gaining traction. The inclusion of other counterparts is however being evaluated to reach an agreement over the English striker, who Fonseca seems to want to provide competition for Morata.
Thank you,just let Alexis Saelemaekers remain at the club,last year we had lots of injury worries at the club,I bet ,this guy is good and might be a starting IX soon
This is ridiculous.
We don’t have space, and he’s not so amazing that he’s worth undermining other players for.
Saelemaekers could have been an amazing utility squad player that stayed at the club for 10 years but instead we had to faff about signing 4 wingers last summer to add to the other [lost count] wingers we already had at the club.
Let’s have go – how many wingers does it take to change a light bulb:
1. Leao
2. Pulisic
3. Okafor
4. Chukwueze
5. Jiménez (who we signed this summer)
6. Chaka Traorè (what’s he doing?)
7. Sia (he’s always seemed pretty good);
8. Liberali (also a RW and isn’t he supposed to be the new Phil Foden…)
9. Saelemaekers
9 wingers for 2 positions.
Like WTF.
It’s a mess.
We need to give 1-4 above the best chance to succeed this season, and we need to create space for 5-8 so there’s no space for 9.
Also if 5 is competing for LB with 3 other players (Theo, Bartesaghi and Terracciano) so not really sure why we signed him.
I think pullisic would be played as and. Okafor as false 9
Why are you defending this?
We’re apparently trying to sign another striker and an attacking midfielder so where will they all fit?
Or do we just lob a load of players together and see which one’s ‘make it’?
And then insult the ones who struggle?
Assuming we play 4-2-3-1.
1. Leao – obviously.
2. Pulisic – can play across three position
3. Okafor – he is not convincing on the wing – he is more like a striker/false 9
4. Chukwueze – yes.
5. Jimenez – he is attacking full back.
6. Chaka Traore – should have been sold. The fact no one even interested in him say a lot.
7. Sia – still young, will play at futuro. Maybe next season.
8. Liberali – even younger, mostly play at futuro. Also can play as 10.
9. Saelemaker – well if he stay.
So as senior player we have Leao, Pulisic, Chukwueze, Okafor(?), and if he stay, Saelemakers. 5 players that plays across the wing, one can play at AM, one should play at CF.
How many times have we seen this?
How many times have we seen Milan have too many players for one or two positions, and watched all or some of those players struggle and underperform?
How many players have we been through?
How many youth players have we seen fail to make the ‘grade’ because there’s too many players in front of them?
And still people defend this and keep demanding more.
It’s bizarre.
Jimenez is a left back.
Traore failed to impress at Palermo so he’s in Futuro.
Sia isn’t ready.
Liberali is an attacking midfielder, not a winger.
The most talent winger in the Primavera is Scotti, and he’s not ready either.
Saelemaekers is 25. He brings experience to a young team.
Quick defend our massive squad…
We still have 1-4.
5 as I’ve said is also blocking/competing with three other LBs so it’sbe good to have some flexibility if he’s to see the light of day.
If 6 isn’t good enough (not sure how you know given loans rarely work) sell him don’t faff about with Futuro.
And 7 and 8 need to be given space if they’re again ever to see the light of day.
Why are we doing this again?
For ‘experience’?
Why does 1-4 need ‘experience’ behind them and why can’t 1-4 provide ‘experience’ for 5-8?
I hope you weren’t one of those calling for Saelemaekers to be sold last summer and have changed your mind after a few preseason games!
For the record I was against his loan and against 3/4 wingers we signed but now that we have 1-4 we have to back 1-4.