One of the most prominent issues for Milan so far this season has been the lack of goals in the side, and looking back on last season, it’s not a new problem.
The Rossoneri have managed just 28 goals in 26 Serie A games thus far, while we managed 55 in 38 outings last season which was the second lowest tally of the top nine sides in the standings.
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While Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s return in January provided us with a timely boost, there is still a lack of quality, depth and firepower in the final third to offer us a consistent source of goals, and in turn that is why addressing it must be a priority this summer.
According to Sportmediaset, it’s suggested that should Ralf Rangnick arrive ahead of next season, he’ll get a €100m budget to ultimately stamp his mark on the squad and bring in players better suited to his ideas and the way in which we may well play moving forward.
It’s also noted that while Zlatan Ibrahimovic may stay, as the Swede and Milan will have to agree on exercising an option to extend his contract for another year, as per the club’s official site, Real Madrid forward Luka Jovic is the top target to bolster the attack.
Should such a move fail to materialise, it’s added by Sportmediaset that AZ Alkmaar starlet Myron Boadu could be proposed to Milan by agent Mino Raiola, and based on what the 19-year-old has produced this season, should he be the number one target?
Quality, real potential and big future ahead
As seen in the video below, one of the most impressive strengths of the Dutch youngster is that he’s capable of scoring in various ways. He’s a threat in the air, can be a poacher in the box and is equally adept at finishing with either his right or left foot.
Combined with pace, mobility, natural instincts and an impressive sense of awareness and positioning to find space, he managed to score 20 goals and provide 13 assists in 39 appearances this season and it’s that ability to offer more than just goals which is particularly promising as Milan tend to fare better with a well-rounded, dynamic figure to lead the line.
Admittedly, he’s still raw and he’ll no doubt have to take his game to the next level once he leaves the Eredivisie, but there is arguably a lot to like about his overall game and what he can offer Milan.
With the expectation of Rangnick’s preferred style of play, Boadu boasts all the characteristics that would perhaps make him an ideal fit in that strategy, while he ticks all the right boxes in terms of still being young with plenty of room for growth and development to become a real asset.
After representing the Netherlands from U15 to U21 level, he marked his debut for the senior side with a goal last year, and so it looks as though he’s destined for big things if he can continue to get better. The fact that Raiola has identified him as a talent and now represents him arguably tells a story in itself.
Better option than Jovic?
This is Boadu’s breakout season and so he hasn’t proven he can deliver on a consistent basis over a full season and year in and year out. That’s ultimately the risk involved with signing any young player, as it’s a gamble as to whether you’re recruiting a future superstar or a talent who doesn’t manage to kick on.
Jovic, 22, is a little longer in the tooth. He had a good spell at Red Star Belgrade as a youngster and while it didn’t work out at Benfica, 36 goals in 75 games for Eintracht Frankfurt across two seasons saw him deliver in one of the major leagues in Europe.
That was enough to earn him the switch to Real Madrid last summer, but with just two goals in 24 games largely due to being limited to a bit-part role by Zinedine Zidane and with an injury now sidelining him, his debut campaign hasn’t gone to plan at the Bernabeu.
Reason for concern or simply just not the right fit?
MilanNews reported earlier this month that it could take €40m to sign the Serbian international, and so now with Sportmediaset noting above that he’s the first name on the list for Rangnick, that is a lot of money for a player who hasn’t delivered on the big stage this year.
Furthermore, will both he and Real Madrid be ready to call it quits after just one season? With Karim Benzema not getting any younger at 32, Jovic was surely signed with a long-term vision in mind.
In contrast, MilanNews noted last month, via the paper edition of Tuttosport, that Boadu could be available for around €20m. That’s half the price for a talented, hungry teenager with the technical quality, pace, touch and goalscoring ability to potentially make a real impact.
We’ve had some hits and misses in recent transfer windows. While Ismael Bennacer and Theo Hernandez have proven to be important additions, Rafael Leao hasn’t yet proven himself.
Boadu would be a gamble, but given how out-and-out goalscorers haven’t fared particularly well at Milan in recent years and have subsequently found themselves heading through the exit door, would signing Jovic see us risk following the same path, and could Boadu be an ideal addition to complement Ibrahimovic initially and emerge as a long-term solution in time?
Based on the quality that he has displayed this year, there is arguably a strong case in favour of going with the AZ starlet.