It’s another Monday so it’s another round of Monday Milan Musings. WE RIDE!
Current Squad
Keepers
Maignan (2026) remains the starter, Sportiello (2027) a very improved backup and Mirante (2024) remains third choice. All good with the first team. Vasquez and Jungdal remain Milan players and likely will go on loan again. Noah Raveyre has been signed to start for the Primavera. I can’t see anything changing here.
Defense
Center Backs first. Tomori (2027), Thiaw (2027), Kalulu (2027), Kjaer (2024) and Gabbia (2026) look to be the main 5. Gabbia is looking for first team football with Genoa being a prime option for him. Milan have a perfect blend of youth, experience, and versatility here. Caldara is still technically a Milan player. With Gabbia searching hard to find a spot it could he lingers as a 5th center back. It would be wild to see him on game day in a Milan uniform after all this time.
Fullback we have Calabria (2025) and Florenzi (2025) on the right and Theo (2026) and FBT (2025) on the left. On the surface these appear set but I think there’s a chance of some parts moving. Ballo Toure has been offered to Bologna who has accepted. It’s just a matter of Ballo Toure agreeing to terms with them. OG Nice in France are also interested. If that happens look for Milan to look for a young Italian to fill that backup LB spot
Midfield
Bennacer (2027) is the only returning starter but is probably out through the end of the year after undergoing knee surgery. For now i think you have to scratch him off. Interestingly rumors (probably bullshit) have surfaced of offers from the Saudis for him for 50 million. Granted it’s probably complete nonsense and not worth your time…. BUT… are you turning down 50 million for an undersized midfielder with 2 significant injuries now? I’m not.
Loftus-Cheek (2027) has been brought in to aid the cause. It appears we are headed towards a 433 making him as the middle man. We’ve also just added Tijjani Reijnders from Alkmaar. This gives us 2 starting mids to begin the season. Loftus Cheek as water carrier and Reijnders as more of a key pass/shot from distance guy. Do we have a third? Besides them we currently have Pobega (2027), Krunic (2025), De Ketelaere (2027) and Adli (2026) on board. I think Pobega and Krunic stick around. They make sense in a 433. Adli maybe not so much as his position is probably as a deep lying playmaker of sorts which we really do not employ. Torino might be an option for him amongst others. I don’t want to see us give up on CDK. History is littered with guys that struggled to adapt to Serie A and took off elsewhere. That being said if an offer comes in around the 30 million mark you almost have to say yes. We will find out soon enough what Pioli and the new management team think of him.
Bottom line? There is STILL work to be done here. I could see a couple sales and yet another mid brought in. Maybe 2. I’m not really sold on any of those currently on the bench being the third starter.
Forwards
With 433 all but confirmed let’s take stock of the front 3 again. On the left we have Leao (2028) and Rebic (2025). On the right it’s now Pulisic (2027) Romero (2027) Saelemaekers (2026) and Messias (2024). Up top there’s Giroud (2024) and Origi (2026). Returning from loan are Colombo (2024) and Lazetic (2026) and signed from the Primavera is the fantastically named Marco Nasti. Of that last group odds are Lazetic and Nasti go back out on loan. Not much on Lazetic but Nasti has been rumored to several destinations. Colombo is another story. He’s just 21 and had a fine season at Lecce with 6 goals and 2 assists in 34 appearances. Lecce wanted him to stay but we said no. It’s likely he goes on loan again but with only a year left on his deal it’s possible he gets an extension this summer as well.
Rebic and Origi are almost impossible to move unless there’s a miracle. Prepare for both him to linger at least another season. Messias will find a spot somewhere in Italy. Saelemaekers plays all kinds of spots and I like having that guy around. He could certainly play one of the wide midfield spots as a rotation guy. He’s also a good guy to bring on late to finish off games. I’d still be surprised if he goes but, like CDK, if the right offer comes in I could see him elsewhere. Romero? Is he first team? Is he a loan? Are we wasting our time? Serious Bojan and Halilovic vibes here. No idea.
Considering all the rumors swirling around there appears to be a lot of work here to do as well. Windows are a game of musical chairs and right now there are more bodies than chairs.
Summer Signings
CHRISTIAN PULISIC
Signed until 2027
Positions: RW (main), LW, AM
RUBEN LOFTUS-CHEEK
Signed until 2027
Positions: CM (main), AM, DM
LUKA ROMERO
Signed until 2027
Positions: RW (main), AM, LW
MARCO SPORTIELLO (Italian)
Signed until 2027
Position: GK
Rumor Mill
REIJNDERS This is still in the “final stages” with Reijnders apparently due in Milan at some point today or tomorrow to finalize the move.
CHUKWUEZE 24 year old Nigerian right winger at Villareal. Still seems to be on the radar but is on the radar of a lot of clubs. Seems like his price is creeping towards the 40 million mark which might be beyond us. Not much has changed on this front.
MUSAH 20 year old American AM/RW at Valencia. Might be a bit of project but would also be a solid investment. Could see him come in and deputize at the rw SPOT under Pulisic. I still like the idea of this. A 20 year old to learn the ropes from guys like Leao, Giroud and Pulisic? Hell yeah. This is getting closer and closer.
GRAVENBERCH 21 year old Dutch center mid that plays for Bayern. Interesting player but is Bayern gonna move on from a 21 year old under contract through 2027? I doubt it.
ISAKSEN 22 year old Danish winger at Midtjylland. Highlights look a LOT like CDK. Not saying that’s a bad thing. Lanky winger with maybe not the highest end speed but very good skill.
OKAFOR 23 year old Swiss striker at Red Bull Salzburg. 10 goals last year. Young. Decent size. Two footed. Contract expires in 2024. Sounds like the kind of guy you could get at a decent price. Makes sense.
DANJUMA 26 year old Dutch winger at Villareal. Not seeing this one but it keeps getting bandied about. It’s a rumor and probably little more.
DIA 26 year old Senegalese striker at Salernitana. Salernitana just redeemed him from Villareal and may be looking to flip him for a profit. Rumor is they want upwards of 20 million for him. That feels steep but he did pot 16 for a mid table Salernitana outfit last year. That’s impressive work. I’m not sure he would be the successor to Giroud but he would certainly help bridge that gap and would bring some very good Serie A experience to the table.
Wrap Up
All in all the pieces are starting to come together. Keeper and backline is set. Midfield coming along. Still work to be done in attack. Pioli wanted his toy box full for the US tour. Looks like we are getting there.
Cheers
Lisi