According to reports in Italy, Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Malang Sarr are among Milan‘s options to replace Simon Kjaer, but Mattia Caldara’s return is also a likely option.
The Serie A giants are on the lookout for a new central defender after Kjaer’s knee injury, which will keep the Denmark captain out of action for at least six months.
According to multiple reports in Italy, the Rossoneri have set their sights on Christensen, Rudiger and Sarr, all under contract with Chelsea.
Christensen and Rudiger see their deals expire in June 2022, but according to Fabrizio Romano, Kjaer’s compatriot Christensen will sign a new deal with the Premier League giants in the coming weeks.
Andreas Christensen has been approached again by Barcelona [free agent, June 2022] and AC Milan [January, to replace Kjaer] but both clubs feel he’ll extend his contract with Chelsea in the next days/weeks 🔵 #CFC
Chelsea have everything ready – just waiting for Andreas to sign.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 7, 2021
Barcelona had also approached the 25-year-old, according to the report.
As per Il Corriere dello Sport and Tuttomercatoweb, Rudiger is another an option for the Rossoneri.
Milan have reportedly opened talks with the player’s agent and Chelsea, with whom they are on good terms. However, the signing of the former Roma defender remains a tough task for Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara as Chelsea hope to extend his contract.
🚨 The hunt for a new central defender for Milan continues with many names proposed. Apart from Milenkovic and Botman there is also Rüdiger
[@AntoVitiello] pic.twitter.com/vvBMDAvMGA
— Milan Eye (@MilanEye) December 9, 2021
Sarr would be the most likely option, should Milan take their next centre-back from Stamford Bridge. The 22-year-old has only four appearances with the Blues this season.
A host of defenders have been linked with a January move to San Siro, including Fiorentina‘s Nikola Milenkovic, Monaco’s Benoît Badiashile, Lens’ Facundo Medina and Caleb Okoli, currently on loan at Cremonese from Atalanta.
Milan, prende corpo la pista Caldara: si tratta con il Venezia #calciomercato https://t.co/PTaGkaZ4F9
— La Gazzetta dello Sport (@Gazzetta_it) December 10, 2021
There are also growing reports on Caldara’s possible return from his loan at Venezia, where he has played 13 Serie A games this season.
After Calciomercato.com and Tuttosport, La Gazzetta dello Sport confirms the Diavoli have opened talks with the Lagunari over the defender’s possible return to the club in January.
Leave Caldara at Venezia. Let him continue playing regularly in an atmosphere without pressure. Nothing good will come out of his return.
i doubt. I feel Caldara has finally overcome the dark days of injuries. Lets not make same mistake we made in the past with Cristiante and a couple others.
A club like Milan with limited resources can not engage in a “Trial & Error” promotion. Have we asked ourselves this sincere question… If Chelsea weren’t playing a 3-man centre back, will Rudigar, Sarr & Christiansen flourish? I doubt!
My problem with Moncada is that, regardless of his fine scouting plan… it seems he obviously have something against Italian players or the League players. And he should know Pioli will have to change his tactics to a 3-man defence to bring the best out of these Chelsea trio.
Seems he is crossed with development of the french league/players and chelsea! Apart from Caldara, there are other brilliant defenders in Serie A overtime, likes of: Milenkovic, Calabresi, Carboni to mention but a few.
Let Milan’s chiefs be more proactive like: Marotta, Sassuolo‘s CEO and Igar Tare! Next stop should be aiming high in UCL and winning Serie A, not testing the waters.
Very true that Milan need a strong central defender to replace Kjaer …… but they much more desperately need to replace old man Ibrahimovic (whose best before date expired many, many years ago) with a good scorer …. with Giroud, Leao, Ibra and Rebic goals are hard to come by ….. also what about replacing Ibrahim Diaz who is as light as a feather and who can never win the ball in tackles with stronger, taller and heavier midfielders …… and what about jettisoning Kessie and bringing in Adli to take this place once and for all???
I fear the loss of Kjaer’s personality in the team as much as him as a player.
I can’t believe that I am writing this but, given who MIlan may be able to sign, maybe we need to hope that Romagnoli remembers how to defend. He has shown signs of leadership in the past, he is the captain after all.