With Paolo Maldini reportedly agreeing his new contract, Milan can finally get to work on the transfer market for Charles De Ketelaere, Francesco Acerbi and Marco Asensio, while Lorenzo Colombo heads to Lecce.
The Rossoneri were hamstrung until now by the uncertainty behind the scenes, with directors Maldini and Frederic Massara out of contract on June 30.
It’s reported they have finally worked out the terms and above all the way decision-making powers will be split within the club, so they can at last start to get things moving.
Sven Botman is having his Newcastle United medical today, so Milan can go all-in for Lazio defender Acerbi, but Sport Mediaset note the Aquile want €5m to sell.
Inter now appear to have pulled out of the race, making the situation easier.
Where bigger funds are required is for the attacking midfield roles, specifically Asensio and De Ketelaere.
Asensio’s contract with Real Madrid expires in June 2023 and he could be available for circa €25m, but wants an improvement on his current salary of €5.5m per season, according to Radio Rossonera.
As for De Ketelaere, there is competition from Leeds United, but that cannot compare with the possibility of Champions League football and playing at San Siro.
The reason Milan dropped Botman was because the club hierarchy felt more resources were needed for the forward roles rather than defence, where Pierre Kalulu and Fikayo Tomori were just starting to form a strong partnership.
Club Brugge want €35-40m for De Ketelaere and his salary would be lower at €3m.
As for the exits, Italy Under-21 striker Colombo has agreed a move to newly-promoted Lecce, on loan with option to buy.
Milan will also retain a counter-option to bring him back to base.
Il #calciomercato del #Milan entra nel vivo👇https://t.co/z2XlXARFqs
— Radio Rossonera (@RadioRossonera) June 27, 2022
Acerbi not needed. Kalulu-Tomori, and Kjaer-Gabbia. Waste of 5M.
The belgian is not needed. Daniel Maldini, Diaz, Adli and Krunic. Waste of 35M.
Asensio way too expensive and poor scorer. Berardi instead!!!
De Ketelaere? Fantastic news. Asensio? Great! Acerbi? Why… ?
Give me one good reason why Acerbi would be a good addition to the squad? He’s old and not exactly a great defender. Almost no European experience and we already have Kjaer as an older defender anyway. Playing style? He’s not suited to a high line at all. He’s not even that good aerially.
If we just want to fill that fourth choice spot let’s keep Gabbia or sign another low cost youngster imo. I have this nightmare that in the end Acerbi is the only one who will join out of them all.
Good move for Colombo by the way.
@ NT
You’re out of your mind and haven’t watched a game from last season if you think we don’t need an upgrade in AM position. The players you listed are either not attacking midfielders (Krunic) or too young (Maldini) or untested (Adli) or just plain terrible (Diaz) to start. Anyone of them could be a good choice for the bench though.
Nicotine (NT). On the beats again.
De Kateleare is a definite upgrade on Diaz. Diaz became anonymous for two thirds of last season and no real playmaker in this squad which still won the Scudetto. If we can retain this squad and add some creativity then we can challenge again.
Good to hear they would rather focus the money on attack than on defense. Though I don’t mind adding another reinforcement for the back end, but not at any great expense.
Look, most of us wants Milan to upgrade the attacking department first, which is why we are most probably going to allocate little to no money for 5th defender. As 5th defender, you guys complained about Acerbi, but realistically, who can we pursue with limited budget? However, $5M for him is way too much as well, surely with 5M (plus whatever wages) we can extend Romagnoli for a season or two lol.
Well we better get ” moving ” if we plan to sign anyone.
I also have that looming feeling we may only end up with Acerbi. And really with the exception of his NT experience and an extra body he really doesn’t bring anything we need.
My thoughts : what we need in order of importance.
1- ACM
2-RW
3-CDM , replacement for Kessie
4 – RB
5 – CB , young low cost to push Gabbia a bit .
acerbi no point – asensio would be a good signing, DE KETELAERE highly rated young striker from club brugge – good buy but rumors have it leeds united have put a bid for him £26m – thats near enough milan summer budget, Lets see who gets him, be interesting
Things we’ll get going, let’s have faith.
@NT
“ The belgian is not needed. Daniel Maldini, Diaz, Adli and Krunic. Waste of 35M.”
You trolling right?!!?!??
Another top Italian team get rid of a youngster to bring in foreign players