Milan have been linked with a trio of Eredivisie stars in recent weeks as potential signings are lined up to try and strengthen the current squad.
The more immediate focus for the Rossoneri will be the restart of the Serie A season after the schedule was officially confirmed by the FIGC this week, as noted by Sky Sport Italia.
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With 12 games remaining, Milan sit down in seventh place and 12 points off the top-four in the table, and so we certainly have our work cut out for us if we wish to secure a return to the Champions League next season.
However, with the coronavirus pandemic lockdown forcing attention away from the pitch, transfer speculation has linked us with a trio of Dutch players who could help make us more competitive next season and beyond if deals materialise.
As per Il Milanista, the Rossoneri have been paired with a swoop for Denzel Dumfries as a potential long-term solution at right-back, although it’s suggested in that report that it could take an offer of at least €15m to prise him away from PSV Eindhoven.
Meanwhile, MilanNews noted in April, via the paper edition of Tuttosport, that it could take around €20m to land Myron Boadu from AZ Alkmaar as the 19-year-old is coming off an impressive campaign in which he bagged 20 goals and 13 assists in 39 appearances.
As for Teun Koopmeiners, MilanLive noted that he has appeared on our radar too, although his agent warned that he would cost a significant fee to prise away from AZ.
In turn, it would appear as though all three in question will command a relatively hefty price-tag, so just how good are they and would they make sensible additions for Milan?
We spoke to Michael Statham of Football-Oranje.com, (@EredivisieMike) to get an in-depth insight and analysis of the Eredivisie trio to determine just how good they are and if they are likely to move on this summer.
Teun Koopmeiners – 22 – midfielder – AZ Alkmaar
- Ability – Koopmeiners is an exceptional midfield talent who came through the AZ youth academy. He is defensive-minded but can spray some magnificent passes from deep to begin attacking moves. The 22-year-old has captained the Alkmaar side this season and has gained plenty of European experience playing in midfield but also at centre-back, where his interceptions and defensive positioning suit both roles.
- Potential – Already Koopmeiners has been touted by many as a partner to Frenkie de Jong in the Netherlands national team midfield. There is a surprising lack of attention surrounding Koopmeiners given how impressive he has been for the team that finished second in the Eredivisie this season. This player has the potential to go far.
- Transfer? – How likely is it though that he will leave AZ? Everton have also been linked, but, usually, Dutch players leave the Netherlands around this age in their career to make the next step. However, with Euro 2021 only a year away, Koopmeiners may decide to remain another year in Alkmaar to experience Champions League football and have a crack at the Eredivisie title with this special AZ side.
Myron Boadu – 19 – striker – AZ Alkmaar
- Ability – Only 19, Boadu has already fought back from two long-term injuries in his late teenage years to become the starting lone striker for AZ and selected for the Dutch national team. His pace and finishing ability are becoming sharper as he develops into one of the most exciting young strikers in Europe.
- Potential – Any striker playing European football at such a young age has potential, but Boadu has always carried a buzz with his name throughout his time in the AZ academy and Netherlands youth teams. Inevitably, Boadu will add more to his game as he matures and becomes a serious future option for the Netherlands striker berth.
- Transfer? – Highly unlikely. Boadu has certainly stood out for AZ this season, but there’s a growing feeling that they may keep their core players intact for another year. Champions League football will be a major pull for Boadu and he is still a very young player.
Denzel Dumfries – 24 – right-back – PSV
- Ability – PSV’s captain is Netherlands’ first-choice right-back and a player who scored many important goals in the league this season from his defensive position. Dumfries is ready now for a step-up from the Eredivisie but he has been far from perfect defensively in this campaign. PSV started well but suffered from a poor few months around Christmas, where Dumfries hardly shone. On the other hand, a transfer may be the kick that the Sparta Rotterdam youth product needs having experienced plenty of highs and lows with PSV since his move from Heerenveen two years ago.
- Potential – It is arguable that Dumfries has little more room to grow given his age but he may mature his defensive game with a move to Italy on the cards. Whilst he scores many goals from right-back, Dumfries prides himself more on his physical defensive ability rather than his attacking wing play, making it difficult to see how he would suit a back-five system.
- Transfer? – A transfer this summer is almost certain for Dumfries and a move to AC Milan may be the best next step for the Dutchman.
Those are largely very much glowing reports on all three with areas of concern to be noted, although it’s suggested that Dumfries could ultimately be the most realistic arrival of the bunch.
Time will tell how the situation plays out in the transfer window, but adding the technical quality, creativity, finishing and intelligence that this Dutch trio could bring to the side would surely result in an improvement both in terms of our performances and results moving forward.
Whether it’s neither Davide Calabria nor Andrea Conti convincing at right back, needing a midfield partner for Ismael Bennacer or adding more firepower to a blunt attack that has managed just 28 goals in 26 league games so far this season, these three are clearly solutions to those problems if Milan prioritise them and get deals done.