Milan are beginning to line up a series of potential moves in the upcoming summer transfer market as Stefano Pioli and his team look to add fresh faces and inject a new level of energy into the squad, and three specific names are thought to be particularly attractive to the Rossoneri.
Two areas of the Milan squad are in need of particular attention, namely the striking department to alleviate the pressure from 36-year-old Olivier Giroud and after the underwhelming performances of last season’s addition Divock Origi, as well as the midfield, which now needs new reinforcements after the long-term injury to Ismael Bennacer.
To help combat the issues in the middle of the park, Milan are reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport to be keen on Sassuolo’s Davide Frattesi, whose profile is said to be the perfect fit for what the Rossoneri currently require.
The 23-year-old is equally adept at helping out with the defensive phases of the game as he is contributing to the attack, and has 11 goals from his first two seasons in Serie A to show for it.
He is young, Italian and ready to make the step up from Sassuolo to play in European competitions. The only potential issue is that Milan could be caught in somewhat of a bidding war, with interest from Juventus and Inter, as well as from the Premier League also widely reported over the last few months.
In attack, there are two options that Milan directors Frederic Massara and Paolo Maldini are interested in: Lois Openda from Lens and Daichi Kamada from Eintracht Frankfurt.
The former has impressed in his debut season in Ligue 1, and at the age of 23, has found the net on 19 occasions, outscoring Lionel Messi, Neymar and Alexis Sanchez in the process.
Openda is likely to cost around €25m given that his current contract with the French side is valid until the summer of 2027 after joining from Club Brugge last year.
An injection of goals could also come in the form of Kamada, whose personal tally currently stands at 16 across all competitions, including nine in the Bundesliga.
The 26-year-old Japan international is out of contract at the end of the 2022-23 season and will leave Frankfurt upon the expiry of his deal, so Milan will only be required to cover his wages and any potential signing-on bonuses.
I will be over the moon if Milan sign Frattesi, but I’m also realistic enough to know that we will probably be blown out of the water with offers from abroad.
Strange to think that Milan‘s main competition for Frattesi might be Brighton. Those giants of European football.