Amid speculation that Olivier Giroud will leave AC Milan this summer, the Rossoneri will have an important void to fill and must get their decision in the transfer market right.
The 37-year-old arrived in July 2021 and has since gone on to score 47 goals and provide 20 assists in 127 appearances for the club thus far, with just five games remaining this season.
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During his time with us, he has established himself as a fundamental figure for Stefano Pioli, as aside from his goal involvements, he has been a vital presence and focal point up top, and an important fit for the style and system we’ve adopted.
Despite his advancing years, Giroud continued to play a crucial role and his habit of scoring big goals was a welcome bonus, but according to Fabrizio Romano, the Frenchman is set to leave Milan this summer, with an agreement in place to join LAFC.
Further, his experience and leadership will no doubt be missed in the dressing room too as he’s an important personality and presence among the current group, as his mentality would have been key in difficult moments to help build a culture at the club.
That decision subsequently leaves us with a priority in the summer transfer window, as we must now identify and sign a top talent who is capable of scoring goals consistently.
As the game has evolved, it has become increasingly difficult to find such a player for a realistic transfer fee, and so while our work in the market has delivered mixed results over the past 12 months or so, the Milan hierarchy can’t afford to miss on this one.
Naturally, much will depend on our coaching situation as Pioli is expected to depart at the end of the season, and so rather than the Milan hierarchy thrusting their own preferred target on our new coach, it has to be a constructive and joint effort to sign the right player that fits his ideas and style of play.
With Luka Jovic’s contract set to expire this summer coupled with doubts over how effective Noah Okafor would be in a more prominent role with just six goals and two assists in 32 appearances so far this season, the solutions don’t appear to be coming from within the current senior squad.
As per MilanNews, Joshua Zirkzee has emerged as an early frontrunner, with the 22-year-old currently impressing at Bologna having scored 12 goals and provided seven assists in 34 appearances this season.
It feels like a crossroads summer for Milan this year given the expected changes, but it might not matter who the new coach is if we don’t get our recruitment right to give him the tools needed to be successful.
While there will be a reshuffle up front, it also remains to be seen if there will be sweeping changes across the squad too as we look to start a new cycle. Giroud will be a loss given what he’s contributed over the past three years, but it also feels like the right time to freshen things up and start looking for long-term solutions in the squad, as well as in the coach’s seat.
