AC Milan are reportedly interested in CSKA Moscow midfielder Nikola Vlasic, but what would he bring to the Rossoneri if he joined?
Milan have a void to fill in the final third following Hakan Calhanoglu’s departure, while it could be argued that Stefano Pioli needed more consistent creativity and quality in attack even prior to the Turkish international’s exit for Inter.
READ MORE: Who is Fode Ballo-Toure? Analysis of touted AC Milan transfer target
Particularly with the challenge of competing across multiple fronts and against top-level opposition in the Champions League this season, reinforcements are still needed if we are to be competitive both domestically and in Europe.
As per Daniele Longo, albeit talks are still at a very early stage, Vlasic is emerging as a transfer target for Milan and a potential solution to our problem in that attacking midfielder role.
Time will tell if the Croatian international does indeed become the solution, but for now, it’s worth analysing how effective he could be if he were to make the switch to San Siro.
Stats, profile and style of play as Vlasic linked with Milan
The 23-year-old worked his way through the youth ranks at Hajduk Split and earned himself a big move to Everton in 2017.
Things didn’t go to plan on Merseyside as he managed just two goals and one assist in 19 appearances for the Toffees, and that in turn saw him move on to CSKA, on an initial loan deal.
Vlasic has found his best form again in Russia with 33 goals and 20 assists in 103 outings, and that seems to have gained the attention of Milan who are considering him as one of the options to solve our issue in the final third.
Primarily an attacking midfielder who plays through the middle, Vlasic has shown an ability to play on either wing too, but it’s that No.10 area and role that Milan are focusing on this summer.
As seen at EURO 2020 with his goal against Scotland, he can deliver in a big moment and is a smart finisher, and that is what CSKA fans have witnessed during his time at the club too.
There’s no doubt that Vlasic is technically gifted and is a real threat in and around the box with his ability to find the back of the net, while he can also find his target from distance too as he has great accuracy and power in his shot.
With his strength, balance and composure, he enjoys driving forward into the final third from deeper positions too, opening up space for himself as well as his teammates to create dangerous situations.
There’s a lot to like about Vlasic. His tenacity, energy and determination make him a team player too off the ball, while he has the ability to directly impact games which is something Milan didn’t get enough of from Calhanoglu.
While he was still a pivotal figure for us, Calhanoglu needed to do more in such an important role, and Vlasic has that air of his compatriot Ante Rebic about him in that he can make something special happen out of nothing and can turn a game with a bit of magic.
In turn, it could be a sensible signing to address a clear problem area at the moment, but time will tell if Vlasic is the name that Milan land on, as they will undoubtedly be considering countless names and profiles to fill what is a critical role for us.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shm6Ay3sYG4