Samuele Ricci appears to be just one step away from AC Milan, but there’s a pretty big move that must take place for it to materialise: Tijjani Reijnders to Manchester City.
Milan have moved quickly in the last few days, from hiring Max Allegri to making plans for the summer mercato. Manchester City’s approach for Tijjani Reijnders has further accelerated the situation, as the English side want him before the Club World Cup.
According to Mediaset (via MilanNews), the Rossoneri haven’t reached an agreement with City yet, but they are already making moves for a replacement: Samuele Ricci. The Italian was already on their radar, but the fact they missed out on European competitions put the pursuit in danger.
With the money from Reijnders’ exit, however, they will be able to close the deal without any issues. As the report states, they have reached an agreement with the player and they are just one step away from doing so with Torino as well, with the price tag set at around €30m.
Once the Reijnders deal is over the line, Milan will be able to pull the trigger on Ricci. As added by Tuttosport (also via MilanNews), the Rossoneri are indeed in advanced talks with Torino and a deal can be closed at €30-35m.
Without a doubt, even with Ricci as a replacement of sorts (you would have to imagine another midfielder will be signed as well), a lot of Milan fans will be disappointed if Reijnders leaves. He has been a key player this season and he would be incredibly difficult to replace, if not impossible.
15 goals in all competitions, as a midfielder mostly in a tandem, without taking penalties, is incredibly impressive so perhaps the price tag should be higher than the rumoured €75m.
80m is about fair imo. Reijnders is s late bloomer, too old and not that many stand out seasons for 3 figures imo. 100m+ is still a considerable hurdle in football.
This is where scouting and tactics come in.
We have to find at least those fifteen goals elsewhere on the pitch. Or we focus on conceding fewer. We have to expect Gimenez to find more and we need a midfielder who will get on the end of all the ground balls Leao ‘crosses’ per game.
But, for signing another central midfielder, we currently have on our books for the senior team:
– Fofana
– Adli
– Musah
– Pobega
– Bennacer
– Bondo
– Terraciano
– Loftus-Cheek
– Zeroli
– Reijnders or Ricci (I can’t imagine we’d have neither)
And whether or not you think those are good enough, they’re all currently on next season’s payroll for a club not in European competition. Maybe we plan to play three of them per game, maybe two, who knows?
If he’s fit, currently is it RLC who goes back to the AM role like Pioli used him? He was very productive there for his first few months before fading into injured hell.
But emphasis has to be on moving some of those on who we don’t think will contribute.
You lost me when u said RLC number 10 … I mean seriously??
He had a 10 goal season there under Pioli. I do agree though that against some teams it worked a charm and others was a dud. I don’t see it as a permanent solution.
He scored from some corners and rebounds in like 5 games out of 40. RLC as a AM was a waste of time and nothing else, he went missing 98% of the time.
Not saying it’s ideal, trying to think of the options we have for different formations.
There are loads of posts about “sign X”, “sign Y” but who do we have at the moment for various roles. Currently the players we have seem better suited to 4 3 3 for me because we’re lacking that obvious no10 for a 4 3 2 1.
Or 3 at the back… 3-4-3 or 3-5-2? Works with Theo, but if he goes we need a ready made left wing. Does Leao work in a front 2? Evidence suggests not, he’s always struggled centrally. Maybe Pulisic would.
3 4 3 currently feels most likely as Plan A. We only need two centre midfielders, Fofana and Ricci. But where do the goals come from? It relies on Gimenez having a perfect season and supply coming from both wing backs.
Not suggesting, just thinking aloud and trying to interpret Tare’s thinking.
With this current squad any coaches will be forced to play 3 attacker (winger) in which i am not a big fan of in serie A nowadays.
The problem is, when you switch to double striker, there is no one, literally no one, has capability to take the #10 spot. Even in 3421 we are missing those “2”
Back 3 will be good. Trust me.
I wish we continue with that.
There is not enough transfer budget to fix everything.
I wish kessie back, we need ball holder like him.
Kessie, ricci, berrardi, that empoli kid #10 (forget his name).
And 2 wingback close to dimarco-dumfries quality.
That’s all.
Sell those bunch of deadwood musah, RLC, chucky, terraciano, pobega.
Bennacer is good as backup.
Does anyone see how “uncomfortable” our player with the ball? Either when passing or receiving the ball, seems like it’s super bouncy. Kessie’s ball keeping ability is way beyond anybody in the squad.
First we need to decide what formation are we going to play? I read that Alegri wants 4-3-3, in that case Ricci as a DM and Rejndiers-Fofana as mezzala pair is not bad. However Rejndiers is leaving so not sure who will replace him. Adli and Pobega are only good enough as a back up for me. Will need another mid simmilar to Rejndiers. Then if we play with 3-4-3 we might not need replacment for Rejndiers…
How good is Ricci? Never seen a full match from him.
However saw Atalanta-Lazio recently when I was in Italy and Rovella looked like a class player.
Ricci is midtable team player another mussah
This is the dumbest comment I’ve seen in a few days. Just say you’ve never seen him play.
Kaka now you are talking like boss in 3 months time don’t change your words i will prove you wrong
“I never watch him play but I love commenting random sh*t online to try and feel smart”
Nah you end up looking really dumb, they arent even the same type of player, wtf you doing, are you high?
75 million for 15 goal from midfield is a bottom bargain. They can go 85 to 95 with City, easy. They’d be foolish to accept anything less than 85.
This. And especially since ManCity is in a hurry to get him. That alone should raise the price 10M€.
The mistake is Furlani has put price tag on Tiji 75 Only. And City is just try to play a small game yet. Furlani is the man, He doesnt know football anyway and how important no.8 player for City. If we have Marotta, he Will put at least 150 tag on Reijnders
yeah should take advice from Maldini and let him go for free instead then you can brag that Milan isnt a ‘selling club’
I hope Cardinale vetoed to Cancel this transfer
Close the f’ing deal before Inter comes and hijacks it!
Ricci it’s overrated player by Italian media. He’s nothing. Better Hans caviglia / rovella. More cheaper but more talented and slim your wage budget.
Sign Ivan Ilic along with Ricci from Torino if Reijnders leave, as well as Caviglia from Venezia. Start Ilic-Ricci-Fofana in a well balanced 3-men midfield with Zeroli, Pobega/Bondo/Musah and Caviglia as subs. PSG’s superbly balanced midfield of Vitinha-Neves-Ruiz against Inter was one of the reason they thriumped spectacularly. That, and a great attack of course