As many of us expected, it’s beginning to look a lot like a busy summer transfer window for AC Milan this year, with incomings and outgoings being touted aplenty.
After such a woeful season last year despite our Italian Super Cup triumph, the Rossoneri needed to make changes at almost every level, and it’s hoped that we’ll be in better shape ahead of next season.
READ MORE: Why potential savvy Milan move would be so important for Allegri
In comes sporting director Igli Tare to oversee our recruitment process, while Massimiliano Allegri is back for a second stint in charge. Those are two solid, if not extravagant, appointments, and the hope is that they will bring back stability, solidity and build foundations for our future success.
Then comes the squad, as a rebuild was likely this summer given how far we fell short of expectations, coupled with the ongoing uncertainty over specific individuals who are in the last 12 months of their respective contracts with the club.
According to Sky Sport, a deal is expected to be done for Luka Modric in the coming days, and the signing of the 39-year-old top-class stalwart will be an important one to add leadership, experience and a winning culture at the club with someone who’s seen and done it all.
However, it’s added that Milan are keen to add another midfielder this summer, with one of Samuele Ricci or Nicolo Rovella emerging as our preferred option. With their youth coupled with Modric’s know-how and experience, that’s not a bad way to find balance in our midfield, particularly when we discuss what we’re expected to lose this week below.
Further, a left-back is seemingly on our transfer agenda too, again for reasons detailed below, with Andrea Cambiaso said to be a ‘real target’ for the Rossoneri.
Our touted recruitment drive comes at a time when a number of players are being linked with departures, as Sky Sport note that Tijjani Reijnders is on the verge of bidding farewell to join Manchester City, while Theo Hernandez is expected to leave this summer with Al Hilal and Atletico Madrid both keen on landing his signature.
That in turn explains our interest in Ricci, Rovella and Cambiaso, as they will potentially fill glaring voids in the squad once those departures are completed.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are said to hold an interest in Mike Maignan, who is in the last year of his contract, while Luka Jovic has attracted attention from Cruz Azul. Should the pair move on, particularly the former, the Rossoneri would most certainly be in the market for another signing to ensure we have an adequate replacement in between the posts.
Milan have to raise the standard and level within the squad this summer, as we saw over an extended period last season how we simply weren’t good enough on a consistent enough basis.
The possible exits discussed above are likely to bring in significant transfer fees, and so it’s on Allegri and Tare to spend that wisely, and ensure that we’re not only a squad suited to the Milan boss’s preferred system, style of play and identity, but we have the quality and depth needed to make a big jump forward next season and ensure we don’t see a repeat of our eighth-place finish in Serie A.
