AC Milan are in the market for a new right winger who can raise the quality of the attack overall and generate more goal threat, a report claims.
This morning’s edition of Tuttosport (via MilanNews) writes how if Alexis Saelemaekers is one of the strengths of Pioli’s Milan and will be so also in the coming seasons, a winger is needed who can replace the Belgian and guarantee a greater contribution in terms of goals. At least three names are on the wish list: Josip Ilicic of Atalanta, Florian Thauvin of Marseille and Jonathan Ikoné of Lille.
Ilicic has fantastic numbers in Serie A with 56 goals and 37 assists in 143 games for La Dea, but his age (33) means he is not in line with Milan’s parameters. Thauvin is under contract with Olympique Marseille until the end of the season and his ability to guarantee goals and assists makes him tempting, while the 22-year-old Ikoné of Lille has a value of around €30m.
They are three different players in every way in terms of age, cost and the skills that they bring. The key is that a new signing must offer quality and score a few more goals than the current players, but in Pioli’s 4-2-3-1 there also needs to be an element of defensive sacrifice and work rate.
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