With the end of the season getting ever closer, discussions about some players with an uncertain future are starting to intensify, including the renewals of certain players who will soon expire.
As Tuttosport (via MilanNews) write this morning, Milan also fall into this category as they find themselves faced with several players who could say goodbye at the end of the season.
Then, there are also big names with whom they must negotiate an extension and others whose future beyond the 2023-24 campaign is more generally in doubt.
The main issues
On paper, Mike Maignan and Theo Hernandez are contracted to Milan until 2026 and that is why there is perhaps not as much urgency regarding the two Frenchmen. However, the management want to move well in advance knowing how valuable they are.
The club’s will is obviously to renew both but both have made requests for substantial pay rises, demanding a Rafael Leao-level deal who last year renewed at €7m net per season including bonuses.
The goalkeeper currently earns €2.8m while the full-back earns €4m. Both, it seems, have asked for an adjustment of up to €8m. There is time to negotiate and come to terms but Milan are not taking any possibility off the table.
They cannot even rule out a sale, but that would only happen in the presence of offers of a certain magnitude, as happened with Sandro Tonali last summer. The priority is to continue together.
The other cases
At the end of this season there will be many farewells and a couple will be more painful than the others. In this sense we are talking above all about Olivier Giroud and Simon Kjaer.
The striker, after three years as a protagonist for the Rossoneri, seems intent on moving towards the United States, the perfect place to end his career in peace. Los Angeles FC want the Frenchman, and he already has a verbal agreement with them.
However, not much is known about Kjaer’s future but what is likely is that there will not be a renewal with Milan. The Dane’s experience has been invaluable in recent years but Simon has suffered physically this year and the club could decide to invest in fresh faces.
The one who will certainly leave is Mattia Caldara and with him also Antonio Mirante. However, a doubt remains for Luka Jovic: we must understand if Milan plan to trigger their option to extend his deal for another year.
Keep Jovic, he’s got different characteristics to Zirkze. Also, been doing well as sub.
Renew Mike & Theo, and release the veterans.
Get a italian CB and a strong CDM who can pass.