The AC Milan management showed in the winter transfer window that they are not frightened of making big changes, and it will be the same in the summer.
La Gazzetta dello Sport speak of an upcoming ‘revolution’ regardless of whether Milan get a top four spot and if they were to win the Coppa Italia. It will be interesting to understand what will happen, to see which players will stay and which will say goodbye.
Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial!
For some, it will depend on the head coach (potentially a new one) and the director who will make the choices. Giorgio Furlani will definitely remain, but questions will be asking of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Geoffrey Moncada, while a new sporting director could arrive. Who else is at risk though?
The Leao case
Theo Hernandez is at odds with Milan, and should leave in the summer or when his contract expires at the latest. However, his partner on the left flank Rafael Leao – who he arrived with in 2019 – is also at risk of leaving.
They made their way together, they reached their peak together and now they are being questioned together. Leao is not unsellable for Milan: he has a long contract but he hasn’t made the leap in quality expected and is the subject of criticism.
There are signs that the end of the cycle is near, but it will depend on the offers. The clause of €175m is purely formal: it does not represent Leao’s value nor Milan’s request. The impression, at the end of February, is that €80m would be enough though the next two months could change that.
What is certain is that, at the moment, one destination for Rafa is more likely than the others: Saudi Arabia. There is no shortage of money in the Saudi Pro League and Leao is obviously of interest.
The defensive department
Fikayo Tomori was twice on the verge of leaving in the winter but said no to Juventus and above all to Tottenham. The price, more or less money, was set: €25m (plus bonuses). Even in the summer, a lot will depend on him, because Milan made it clear enough what they think.
Tomori for Conceiçao was a starter in January, yet now he is less so. Speaking of which, pay attention to Malick Thiaw, who is playing a bit more recently having lost his starting spot before, and has always had admirers in the Bundesliga and Premier League.
What does it take to be a candidate for a move in football today? Playing at a good level, having an affordable salary for the buying clubs and representing a capital gain for the selling club. With Thiaw, three out of three.
Strahinja Pavlovic, on the other hand, cost more, has been in Milan for a shorter time and seems to be growing week by week. Now it is more likely that he will stay, but the Rossoneri directors could quickly change their mind.
Probable goodbyes
So, who is leaving? Well, there is a trio of suspects starting with Emerson Royal. The Brazilian was close to saying goodbye already in January, when Milan made a drastic decision to let him depart and to sign Kyle Walker.
It is difficult to imagine that someone will call with a bid of €15m for Emerson, but much more likely that Milan will find a team interested in a loan. In the list of destinations, Turkey is more likely than the others.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is a distant thought for Milan fans and has regressed a lot in one year. He played a few minutes on January 6 and, before that, he was last a starter on December 11. Conceiçao likes him but it is up to him to show that he can stay fit and deserves the No.8 shirt.
The third name is Samuel Chukwueze, who disappointed at Milan, a lot. He is not a starter nor has he been a super sub. It may be that Serie A is not the league for him and, after two years of trying, he has probably convinced himself of this.
Alessandro Florenzi is a special case. In the past he was fundamental as a dressing room man and team man, capable of playing on the right, in the middle and on the left, and even a good free-kick taker too.
However, the injury in July was very serious as he needed reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament and repair of the lateral meniscus of the right knee. He has not returned yet and in the summer, who knows. It is not excluded that he will stay but his role would be unknown.
too reactionary.
Selling Leao?
It seems like the greedy board wants to take advantage of bad results by blaming Leao and sell him.
What happens next? Will these people buy someone better than Leao for that 80 million?
Never! Cardinale will use that money to pay his debt to Elliott
That’s not how it works. Stop posting nonsense.
“Cardinale will use that money to pay his debt to Elliott”
Holy f***!!! These IDIOTS still think it would be possible to do that. Wow. Beyond stupid. No matter how many times and how many people correct these idiots but they still think that owner’s money and club’s money is the same thing. FFS. I’m done with these idiots. I’d rather bang my head against the wall for 6 hours than read this nonsense. 😀 😀 😀 😀
TALK TALK TALK it’s action which should have been done long ago .
Italian football is very much half way through the trap door towards being a forth tier league along with Holland Belgium Portugal and France and in my own opinion just where certain partys want it.
A total revolution? A new sporting aproach? Big money being spent ?
It’s all ONE BIG CON AND WON’T HAPPEN IN ANY CAPACITY UNDER THESE PEOPLE.
ELLIOT / REDBIRD PLEASE GET OUT FOR OUR SAKE AND THE LEAGUE.
They have a lot of options for sales.
Currently loaned players: Kalulu, Bennacer, Morata, Adli, Pobega, Saelemakers, Lazetic, Colombo, Okafor.
You can sell these players or you can keep. Those are not superstars bit fine for rotation. Also sales could bring good capital gain. Like in case of Saelemaekers, Kalulu, Okafor and Bennacer.
With quality manager you have quality options.
Currently players, at Milan. Florenzi should go in my opinion. Too old always injured. Jovic also.
Than players. Who are not important: Emerson Royal, Ruben Loftus, Terracciano, Origi and Chukwueze.
In my opinion these should leave Milan and free up more space. And for loaned players Milan should have capital gain.
Next problem is loaned players. Kyle should be bought. Sottil is not necessarily. And Felix, I would loaned him one more year as well. And new arrivals all depends about champions league next year .
Leao I would not sell. Tomori – only for 30 million and if they bring 2 times better defender.
We’re a team devoid of leaders. Just look at how we went out of the CL. Gabbia (supposed future leader) screws up. Maignan (the captain) screws up. Theo (former captain, supposed leader) screws up. We can forget about Leao of course and so that leaves…. tumbleweeds.. We need a few older, more experienced players in this team to give it some direction. Giroud might want a return after just getting burgaled by the Bling Ring.. Could be an option up front.
Gerrard tripping against Chelsea which led them to lose the title race. Does it make him any less of a leader? Unworthy of wearing the armband? These things happen to the very best as well.
Yeah you’re totally right, we have Walker now but we are seriously in need of some leadership from senior players. There’s no one there now who will fill that void.
Sure, lets buy Felix, with him and Cukwatze our future is bright. Common lets be serious, lets finally try to find a replacement for Maldini in the sporting department and take it from there.
Maldini is the only one who understands and has that love for milan.
He would have not sold tonali, Milan’s downfall started when they both left Milan.
Poor management should be replaced. New coaches won’t change the team. The management and the owner itself doesn’t have a vision for the team
Buddy – not sure if you’re old enough but please understand this 80m for Tonali… 8 0 MIllions. Even city would consider selling. This is business not anything else
Sure, but also 80M for Cukwatze, Loftus and Musah.
Totally agree 💯
BRING MALDINI BACK
Imagine getting bad result in education, work, household, children behaviour disorder and bullied, and seeing the club returning to banter era. What could be worse than this..mates
When you have the same management it’s no revolution.
Milan under Maldini was promising. They have to realize and bring him back.
Conceicao cant treat milan the same way as the kids in Porto.
If I had to pick players to sell, Tomori Theo, RLC, Chuk, return felix to Chelsea, Emerson, florenzi, send Sottil back to fiorentina, send Abraham’s back to Roma. My goodness our management has made so many mistakes, sell Moncada Furlani, take away some of Ibra power and bring in a proper sporting director so he can learn management skills
It’s inevitable I’m afraid. No CL means no money for acquisitions. Sergio won’t be extended. Big sales inevitable, probably Leao, Theo and Tomori as frontrunners. A lot of deadwood to get rid of (Origi, Emerson, RLC, Musah, Okafor, Chuk, Jovic) and useless loaned players to leave (Abraham, Sottil, Felix). I’m most worried which of loaned out players will return back to us.
But we need a fresh start under proper management and coach (preferably Italian) who will have a full preseason and be able to build around our core:
Maignan
Walker Thiaw Gabbia ???
Fofana ??? Reijnders
Pulisic Gimenez ???
I hope this time it will be about ADDING MISSING BUT QUALITY PUZZLES and not unecessary overhaul with bunch of average foreign could bees. There are many good players in Serie A.
And get an Italian coach. Italiano and Baroni are interesting profiles. Farioli is doing well with Ajax, Sarri is interesting but somehow past his best and has tendency to clash with his players.
Relax broh, we’ve been in this b4 and they still buy players like usual….in the past management ofc.
Enough with this management, they proved how much damage they can bring in one season. If they stay next season Milan will relegate to Serie B.
BRING MALDINI BACK
Emerson, Florenzi and R-L-C are the must sell/release (together with those that went out on loans in january: Morata and Okafor)
Then I guess Milan will sell if proper bids arrive for Leao and Theo.
But thats at least 5 players that need to be replaced, and 2 “stars” that require high profile signings.
Wont be easy
letting theo go can only be reconciled by getting calafiori
The only revolution that needs to happen is in the management department.
This happens when you allow a beisbol expert like cardinale to take decision about football.
Disaster started the moment Maldini was fired.
Replace the whole management team FIRST before talking transfers
The dude with Milan Jersey in his avatar said in this post “We’re a team devoid of leaders… we need a few older, more experienced players in this team to..”
He’s the one that says Walker>Calabria.. ok Calabria had exited.
He also a huge fan of Redbird when they sold Tonali.
Is he a flop? or he thinks he’s a leader ( cheerleader?) haha
This dude’s action look like something, probably a mirror copy of Redbird?? haha