With just under two weeks to go until the transfer deadline, Milan still have business to complete with both incomings and outgoings expected in the next fortnight.
Marco Giampaolo has seen five new signings already arrive this summer, with Leo Duarte, Theo Hernandez, Ismael Bennacer, Rade Krunic and Rafael Leao joining the Rossoneri to bolster his squad.
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However, there are still key issues that need to be addressed before the deadline passes, namely the need to bring in an ideal second striker behind Krzysztof Piatek and to cut the numbers at left-back.
Milan must trim numbers at left-back
As things stand, Milan will start the campaign with four options at left-back, with Hernandez now likely to be top of the pecking order when fully fit, while Ricardo Rodriguez could remain as his back-up option.
La Gazzetta dello Sport note that Paolo Maldini hinted that two full-backs will leave before the deadline, with the report suggesting that it will be Diego Laxalt and Ivan Strinic who are shipped out.
Laxalt’s agent has since conceded that a loan exit could be possible, as per MilanNews, while Strinic arrived on a free last summer and showed decent form in pre-season to perhaps earn some interest from elsewhere.
Both will therefore surely move on in the coming weeks, allowing Milan to not only trim the wage bill but also to offload players deemed surplus to requirements, something that is particularly needed in that department.
Correa remains priority, exit to unlock move
However, the other question mark lingering over the current squad is bringing in a second striker capable of playing a key role in linking the midfield and Suso to Piatek, adding creativity, technical quality and a goal threat in the final third as well as offering intensity and energy off the ball to help implement Giampaolo’s style of play.
As seen in pre-season, Samu Castillejo has shown little to suggest that he can provide the long-term solution. While it’s commendable that he works so hard for the team, the quality on the ball has been lacking as he struggled throughout the summer to create for others as well as carry out the more simple tasks of simply keeping hold of possession.
As per the Gazzetta report above, Maldini added that an exit for Andre Silva has stalled, and so until there is a departure, it’s unlikely that Milan will secure a deal for top target Angel Correa from Atletico Madrid.
MilanNews note, via Sky Sport Italia, that Milan will continue to try and land the 24-year-old until the last day of the window, but it seemingly all depends on whether or not an exit can first materialise to help unlock such a swoop.
Castillejo has also been linked with an exit in recent days, but while Leao will surely emerge as the ideal solution if a new signing doesn’t arrive to help support Piatek up front, Correa seems like a perfect fit for Giampaolo with all the key attributes he brings to the table and so it’s hoped that a breakthrough is forthcoming.
Those would appear to be the most realistic deals in the next two weeks, while it remains to be seen if Maldini and Co. have a surprise in store for us with another key signing in the works.