Charles De Ketelaere and Renato Sanches delays could prompt a complete change of strategy from Milan, as Hakim Ziyech wants the move from Chelsea and Yacine Adli is winning everyone over.
The Rossoneri had expected to splash out on the transfer market this summer after winning their first Scudetto in over a decade and sealing the takeover by American giants RedBird.
However, that deal won’t be finalised until September, so they are still having to work on Elliott Management’s tight budget.
LOSC midfielder Renato Sanches seems to be closer to PSG, while Club Brugge are refusing to drop their €35m asking price for De Ketelaere.
This has prompted a rethink, with Calciomercato.com assuring that Ziyech is eager to make the switch from Chelsea to San Siro.
He’d be available on loan with option to buy, therefore freeing up the budget for a new defender.
Another reason for the change is provided by La Gazzetta dello Sport, who point out that the best performer in pre-season has been Adli.
He turns 22 later this week and was purchased last year from Girondins de Bordeaux for €8m plus bonuses, left in France for one more season to help his development.
It seems to have paid off, because not only is the Frenchman impressing in the midfield role that would’ve gone to Renato Sanches, he is also shining as a trequartista.
That is the position De Ketelaere would take in the squad and which is currently not being fulfilled adequately by Brahim Diaz.
If Adli can be trusted to make the difference already, Milan might be less inclined to invest in those roles.
As a sign of that, Adli is today playing as a trequartista – behind the strikers – in a game between ranks with many of the Milan first-choice XI.
Seriously milan why are you this cheap
@Tony – which Italians do you want instead?
Stuff Brugge if they don’t want to drop the price. CDK isn’t all that as far as I can tell – I don’t see anyone chasing him besides bottom feeders Leeds – if he was that good, who Europe would be chasing him. He wants Milan perhaps because this may be his only chance of a big team – Brugge should think hard about this. If they don’t sell him to Milan, chances are he won’t go to Leeds and Brugge won’t make any money. He will end up at Milan for free in couple years. Brugge director that’s dealing with transfers also owns part of the club so he is greedy and want more money for himself.
If Adli is playing that great why not give him a chance? Worked for Tonali , Tomori, Kalulu …..
Anyone who has seen Adli play for his previous club, is he any good as a midfielder? Could he replace Kessie?
I thought of him as a 10 (or trequartista if you prefer) but if he can slot into the midfield 2 it would leave Diaz and maybe CDK to compete for that spot.
Adli scored just 1 goal in the French farmers league last season, now you’re telling me that he is going to be our first choice in that position? all because of Maldini’s inadequacy? no thank you, Milan must sign an attacking midfielder and a right winger, and good ones i must add, no more Messi clowns from serie B sides, seriously, what the hell was Maldini doing all this time if he cant even sign 1 player? we are paying dearly because of him, i mean we could achieve much more with a true manager at the club instead of this shampoo guy.
@db milan he can’t replace kessie, totally different type of player. Kessie brings muscle to our midfield, which is best replaced or even upgraded by Sanchez. Adli brings creativity and movement. He can be used in any midfield position, I think if we have him in CAM with Isma and Tonali in CM, we could have a very strong midfield.My only concern is the goal getter which we don’t really have a strong one yet in our squad.
LOL @ Rosario , you are coming dangerously close to being regarded as the Hakan of the Milanista.
In fact, your fate may be sealed just by entertaining the thought of supporting Inter. My son just starting playing for Juve academy here in Canada. He has been told not to wear his kit or any Juve apparel in my house !
Forza Milan
Management has to be flexible a bit this cdk transfer has taken long we want cdk ,scudeto plus champion s league no fringe players in cam
LOL Acemilan that’s great stuff. Stick a little tent outside your front door so he can change there.
Also I seriously doubt that’s (the real) Rosario.
@square Yep I know what you mean, he’s not the physical replacement of Kessie but could do a different job to him in the midfield 2 possibly. I’m going on the as.sumption that Sanches isn’t happening so was just thinking who fits where with the players we have. Adli could end up switching between both roles I suppose.
@FI staff
RE: filters…you literally can’t spell A.ssumption without As.s.
Tent is great idea ! Rosario, have M and M done that bad a job so far? I will give them the benefit of the doubt at this point. We also have Pobega to help in Mid. I am looking forward to see all that great young talent in mid !
Nobody takes @Transfer Guru seriously in real life, that’s why he has to be here to show us how smart he is. LOL
@Transfer Guru It’s weird that you’re doubting to Maldini who is probably one of the few people in the club that is really care about the club and knows Milan‘s DNA inside out. Elliot extended M&M contract on the last minute, giving them uncertainty on their future and unable to confirm and continue any deals they have worked on previously. That’s a blow considering we could’ve fixed some deals even before the transfer window is open. We lost Botman, Sanchez now is uncertain, and CDK is dragging too long. If we take a look on what Maldini have worked on the technical side of the club, I can only be grateful what he have done with the limitation given by Elliot. CDK is only the second player that we tried to buy on 30M+ fee after Leao in 2019. That itself shows how bad our financial situation that was inherited since Berlu’s era.
It’s Elliot that we must questioned. Selling the club during the last sprint for scudetto? The sales even have some problems with Blue Skye and won’t even completed until September. Just when the transfer window is open and we need to strengthen our squad. Elliot is the one inadequate. They already make a huge profit from the sell, the rest they let Maldini to clean up the mess.
Now on the stats Adli might be not as impressive, but you have to consider that he is not a goal scorer and also play with a squad that is relegated. Sounds familiar? Isma, Krunic and even Tonali was on the same position before Maldini bought them.