GdS: ‘The Diavolo’s revolution’ – who could sign and depart in big Milan overhaul

It feels like a summer of big changes is coming at AC Milan, with the first decisions being the appointments of Igli Tare and Massimiliano Allegri.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write this morning, we’re only at the beginning of June, but thanks to the transfer window opened specifically by FIFA for the Club World Cup, the market is already red hot. Even that of Milan, who are not among the 32 teams that will participate.

The reason is easy to understand: the Rossoneri won’t be in any European competition next season and their big names are tempting to many of the big ones. We’re talking about Tijjani Reijnders, Mike Maignan and Theo Hernandez, above all.

In the group, there could also be Rafael Leao, who however in via Aldo Rossi they consider untouchable at the moment: both Tare and Allegri consider him the technical leader of the Milan to come, despite the rumours of interest from Bayern Munich.

The possible sales

Yesterday, Manchester City took the decisive step towards signing Reijnders and a fee of around €75m (including bonuses) has been agreed. Milan obviously value the Dutch midfielder, but faced with an offer of this magnitude and aware of the player’s desire to be coached by Pep Guardiola and fight to win the Champions League, they opened up to the sale.

Tiji is not the only Milan big name in the Premier League’s sights. Chelsea are targeting Mike Maignan, and Manchester United are keen in the event of Onana’s departure. However, it is above all the Londoners who have moved decisively on the goalkeeper, who has 12 months on his deal.

At the beginning of 2025, Maignan came very close to signing a renewal until 2029 with a salary of €5m net per year, but due to the decline in his performances things were paused. Tare and Allegri would still like to try to mend things, but Chelsea have bid €25m and the goalkeeper is inclined to accept personal terms.

On Monday evening, Milan and Al-Hilal had reached an agreement (€30m) for the sale of Theo Hernandez to the Saudi League. The full-back was offered a three-year contract at €18m net per season and took a night to think things over.

Yesterday late in the morning he chose to say no, also encouraged by his family. Theo also has only one year left on his contract and at this point he is hoping for a proposal from a big European club: his agent is in contact above all with Atletico Madrid, the club he was in the academy of.

The potential targets

The first signing is pretty much already done, and it will see Luka Modric sign for his boyhood club on a free transfer, with a one-year deal (plus a possible option for another year) having been agreed. However, the 39-year-old cannot be enough.

For the left-back role, Allegri has two obsessions, approved by Tare and in strict order of preference: Andrea Cambiaso, who Max has already coached at Juventus, and Destiny Udogie, formerly of Udinese and winner of the Europa League with Tottenham.

However, Cambiaso was courted by Manchester City in January and nothing came of it because the English cub did not reach the €60m requested by Juve. The full-back did not have a brilliant second half of the season and the Bianconeri could also be open to a sale, but the price would be high.

It is also very optimistic to hope for a favourable price on Udogie, a starter for Spurs in the UEL final in Bilbao against United. In short, Cambiaso or Udogie would require an investment well above the average of these years of RedBird ownership. Maxim De Cuyper of Brugge, Nuno Tavares of Lazio and Junior Firpo are alternatives.

There are many names on the list for the centre-back department, from Pietro Comuzzo of Fiorentina to Giovanni Leoni of Parma, whose stock is rising sharply. They latter however is wanted by virtually every big club in Italy, and unless an offer north of €15m comes in, Parma want to keep him for another year.

In midfield, Allegri has a fantastic relationship with Adrien Rabiot of Marseille. The two, as confirmed by the Frenchman to La Gazzetta, often speak to each other and an attempt to reform the couple in Milan will be made.

Federico Chiesa also winked at the Rossoneri, making it clear that his relationship with Allegri at the time was good, beyond the (many) rumours to the contrary. He played very little for Liverpool, who knows if Milan will not seize the opportunity to bring him back to Italy.