Milan legend Billy Costacurta explains where Ruben Loftus-Cheek needs to improve to make an impact in Serie A, while Alvaro Morata has one advantage over Gianluca Scamacca.
The Rossoneri snapped up Loftus-Cheek from Chelsea at a cost of €16m plus another €5m in various add-ons, as he completed his medical today and signed the contract.
“I think Loftus-Cheek is a very interesting player,” Costacurta told Sky Sport Italia in his role as pundit.
“He can give a great deal to the team in attack with his physicality and pace, even if I think he needs to improve in the timing of his defensive interceptions and above all his positioning too. He has done well in fits and starts, but was injured a great deal too.”
With the sale of Sandro Tonali to Newcastle United for €80m and release of Brahim Diaz back to Real Madrid, Costacurta can see a theme developing in the new transfer strategy after Paolo Maldini and Frederic Massara were removed from their posts.
“The watchword is physicality. The names I hear and that we have seen already all bring great physicality. Yunus Musah of Valencia is very young, but Rino Gattuso spoke highly of him. Milan are working in a certain direction that perhaps we are not accustomed to.”
When it comes to their new striker, West Ham United are so far refusing to let Scamacca leave on loan to Milan or Roma, while Atletico Madrid forward Morata is another candidate.
“I am a supporter of Scamacca, I think he can do very well and I hope he returns to Italy,” added Costacurta.
“When he was playing, he proved that he could cut it in the Premier League and that is a strong message. I personally would go for Scamacca, but Morata at this moment is stronger than him, so more of a guarantee.
“If he works hard and learns under Stefano Pioli, then Scamacca could become better than Morata.”
Scamacca is only 24 years old and was purchased from Sassuolo last summer for €36m plus bonuses.
He scored eight goals in 27 competitive games for West Ham, but had knee surgery in April.