AC Milan are hopeful of stamping their ticket for the 2026-27 edition of the Champions League in the coming weeks, and a big window would then away.
This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport begins by outlining what had coach Massmiliano Allegri wants: a right midfielder with international experience, trophies and leadership on his CV; and a defender already accustomed to Serie A and capable of playing in any system.
These, along with a new striker, are Milan’s top priorities for the upcoming transfer window. The squad will need to be expanded numerically to face next season’s increased number of games, but the goal is also to improve qualitatively in at least some positions.
A German engine
In midfield, the hot name is Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretzka. He’s a player with 17 career trophies: experience and a knack for playing to win are traits Allegri believes are crucial to boosting the team’s personality.
Indeed, a midfield trio of Goretzka, Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot would have few equals in Italy, at least in terms of major honours. The Bayern midfielder’s contract expires in June, and the club have already announced his departure at the end of the season.
He is therefore free to negotiate with other clubs. Milan are interested, but it won’t be a simple move. Goretzka currently earns €7m net per year and, obviously, is also on the radar of other teams, including Juventus.
For their part, Juventus are considering offering him a three-year contract worth €5m net plus bonuses, in line with the other highest-paid players in the squad.
Max would love a signing like Goretzka: with 71 Champions League appearances across his spells at both Schalke 04 and Bayern Munich, he would be a quality addition as they prepare to return to top-flight Europe.
He may no longer have the frenetic pace of a few years ago, but the pace in Italy is slower than in the Bundesliga, and his physicality (82kg distributed over 189cm) is what makes the difference. Modric would thus have two exceptional players alongside him.
Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial!
The alternatives? Ardon Jashari and Samuele Ricci will remain in the squad, and if Youssouf Fofana and Ruben Loftus-Cheek (whose contracts expire in 2027) were to leave, a couple more players would be added.
Among the candidates is the young Brazilian André from Corinthians. A deal seemed to be on the cards for €15m plus €2m in bonuses, before the São Paulo club backtracked. It’s only natural, then, that Milan will continue to look for other players.
One of these is Sassuolo’s Ismael Koné, who has had a very impressive season so far (five goals in 26 appearances) in his first year in Italy. The Canadian midfielder of Ivorian origins is popular with all the big Serie A clubs and could even be a potential prospect.
A Spanish anchor
From midfield, we move back to defence, a department that needs strengthening in every sense. Numerically, given that Milan faced the current season with five centre-backs despite adopting a three-man defence, and qualitatively, given that one of the five is the young David Odogu.
Someone capable of earning a starting spot (or close to it) right away is needed. With Bayern’s Kim Min-jae earning €9m net per season, the name at the top of the list is Lazio’s Mario Gila. He was brought to Rome by Igli Tare, now Milan’s sporting director.
Max and the Milan management were able to admire him up close on Sunday at the Stadio Olimpico, when he was among the best on the pitch. If there were any doubts, Gila’s superb performance may have dispelled them entirely.
The Spaniard’s contract with Lazio expires in 2027, which is why, despite negotiations with Claudio Lotito always being complicated, the price tag could be kept to around €20-25m. However, a potential auction could help raise the price, given that Gila isn’t just on Milan’s radar.
Inter are also interested, so a mercato derby could erupt. It’s too early to talk about a transfer window, but the Rossoneri’s intention is clear: to try to get ahead of the curve and catch the competition off guard.
Right…… Show me in the summer what your intention is…