AC Milan may have wrapped up second place in the standings after the results over the weekend, but now work must continue on the planning for next season.
This morning’s edition of Tuttosport (via MilanNews) has a front page that reads as follows: ‘Milan in the balance. Maignan-Theo renewal problems. The big names could leave too. Agreement a long way off: Bayern after both the goalkeeper and full-back. Tonali-style proposals accepted for Leao too. Camarda issue. Coach: Conte found the door closed’.
Time to say goodbye
In short there is a lot of work to be done to turn those doubts into certainties, and the planning for the future will continue over the next few weeks, starting from some certain farewells.
Stefano Pioli’s departure has not yet been made official, since the club wants to let him work in peace until the last game. However, the feeling is that the match against Salernitana at San Siro will be his last one.
Then there are players whose future away from Milanello is already known. Olivier Giroud’s official announcement arrived yesterday, with an emotional interview on Milan TV, so he too will get a send off against Salernitana.
Another leader of the dressing room and symbol of the Pioli era is Simon Kjaer and a similar announcement could come from him in the next few days after his agent confirmed his exit. Others like Mattia Caldara and Antonio Mirante should leave when their deals expire too.
Offers invited
The feeling these hours around Casa Milan, however, is that no one is sure of their place in the team. Considering the imminent arrival of a new coach and the mysterious paths of the transfer market, any player could leave Milanello at present.
The main suspects are Mike Maignan, Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao. The reason is simple: they are the ones who have the greatest number of suitors, on paper. The two Frenchmen have contracts expiring in 2026 and are asking for an increase of up to €8m net per year, even more than Leao gets.
The Portuguese’s renewal, for the club, was more of an exception and for this reason if an agreement were not reached and if at the same time an indispensable offer were to arrive – Sandro Tonali-level ones – one of the two could say goodbye. Bayern Munich are pressing for both.
For Leao, however, there is a €175m clause but here too if a club showed up even with a €100m bid it would bring Milan to the table. This does seem a tad unlikely though given that he has not been as consistent this season.
Then there are the defenders: from the more expensive Fikayo Tomori to Pierre Kalulu and Malick Thiaw, at least one of the three could depart. The same goes for the midfield where one or two of Ismael Bennacer, Yacine Adli and Tommaso Pobega could potentially say goodbye.
Finally, there are a few more doubts about Luka Jovic. Milan can automatically renew him before June 30th and given Giroud’s departure they could be inclined to do so.
We should sell calabria, Bennecer, jovic, Adli, Florenzi, thiaw and or kalulu
And buy Tiago santos, fofana or Ugarte, desks or zirkee, Buongiorno, scalvini.
(All the people I said to buy are transfer targets of Milan)