The winter transfer window may have slammed shut, but in truth the work of the AC Milan management will continue at the same level of intensity in the days and weeks to come.
Milan were perhaps a bit quieter than expected, with only Matteo Gabbia and Filippo Terracciano arriving, but at the same time they did seal a couple of deadline day exits in Marco Pellegrino and Chaka Traore.
In addition to those two, Daniel Maldini headed to Monza on loan, Rade Krunic to Fenerbahce, Devis Vasquez to Ascoli and Luka Romero to Almeria.
Although in a few hours the January window will be just a memory, as anyone who knows a little about football knows that the transfer market never really ends.
Precisely for this reason, our colleagues at SempreMilan.it outline what Milan’s next business could be as we head into February.
The first defender on the list
A name for the defence that could also come back around in the summer Lilian Brassier for whom, according to Telefoot, Milan made an offer of around €10m at the start of the month which was rejected.
According to the French source, the Rossoneri tried again by also inserting Marco Pellegrino as a counterpart but even in this case Brest did not give their approval, closing the door on things at least for January.
However, it was a clear declaration of interest from Milan who will certainly try for Brassier again in the summer, given that the contract that binds him to the Ligue 1 club will end in the summer of 2025.
On the other hand, Geoffrey Moncada confirmed the interest in the 24-year-old a couple of weeks ago: “We have been following him for a long time, I have known him for 5 years. He’s an interesting player. He’s on our list.”
Two free transfers eyed
Milan are also considering players that could arrive with no transfer fee attached, as seen in the summer when Romero arrived from Lazio, before heading back to LaLiga on loan for the second half of the season.
This time, the management seem to have identified two profiles with reduced costs also from a salary point of view: Tosin Adarabioyo of Fulham and Lloyd Kelly of Bournemouth, both of whom are only under contract in June.
Adarabioyo: the new Tomori?
Born in Manchester (England) but also with a Nigerian passport, Adarabioyo was born in 1997 making him 26 years old. He has strong aerial and physical qualities, being 196cm tall and able to count on an incredible stride.
He played in the academy of Manchester City from 2013 to 2018, making his debut in the Champions League at a very young age at just 19 years old. He made eight senior appearances for City plus over 70 appearances in the youth sector.
In 2018 he moved to West Brom on loan, a positive experience for Adarabioyo who played practically every game, and then he went to Blackburn where he played the same number of matches.
Adarabioyo’s improvements were there for all to see and especially for Fulham who in 2020 decided to purchase him from Manchester City outright by paying €1.65m.
He played four seasons with the west London club, becoming a key player in the defence, with well over one hundred appearances (122 at the moment), also scoring four goals and adding two assists.
An interesting side note: over the course of his career (275 games) he received only one red card and just 20 yellows.
Kelly: The broken captain
Born in Bristol, Kelly came through the academy of his hometown club. In fact, he played 48 matches with the Bristol City shirt from 2017 to 2019 after being promoted to the first team.
In the summer of 2019 he moved to Bournemouth for the record sum of €14.8m, an operation that made him one of the most expensive purchases made by the club.
Kelly rose to prominence at Bournemouth, quickly becoming the team’s absolute leader and even getting the armband. After having cut his teeth in the Championship, the 25-year-old has accumulated over 40 appearances in the Premier League, adding two assists.
He is considered to be a modern defender, skilled in defending against any type of forward and equipped with a strong personality and sense of leadership that make him potentially ideal when it comes to settling into a top club like Milan.
Kelly’s contract with Bournemouth expires next June and the decision not to renew has sparked some controversy, precisely because of the captain’s armband he has worn over the last few seasons.
Renewals
At the sound of the gong that will mark the end of the January transfer window, the obvious speculations on the future of certain players will also begin. Among the items on tomorrow’s agenda there will certainly be the question of renewals.
Among the players who will go without too much discomfort next summer are the third goalkeeper Antonio Mirante and the forgettable centre-back Mattia Caldara.
However, two important names could be added to them which the management does not seem to have any intention of renewing.
Kjaer and Giroud say goodbye?
We are talking about the experienced Danish central defender Simon Kjaer and the French veteran Olivier Giroud, both out of contract in June and on the verge of farewell.
For the former, a possible retirement from football is also being considered, due to the various injuries suffered in the past couple of years, while for the former Chelsea man the call from the MLS continues to become more and more insistent.
It would be two farewells that are far from painless, given the memories that Kjaer and Giroud have been part of and have helped create.
The list of players expiring in June ends there, but from the next few weeks Furlani and Moncada intend to also work for those who will see their contracts run out in the not exactly near future.
Reinforcing the rearguard
Among them, the names of Mike Maignan, Theo Hernandez and Davide Calabria stand out, three players whose deals will expire in June 2026, but who Milan intend to lock down long term.
Maignan would like to see his current salary at least tripled from €2.8m net per season, which means that could be a difficult negotiation amid interest from other clubs.
It is a slightly simpler matter for Theo Hernandez who already earns €4m, but he would like a ‘loyalty bonus’ of sorts in order to pen another multi-year extension.
It is two negotiations that Milan intend to start immediately but which will probably only be completed in a few months, while the full-backs Alessandro Florenzi and Davide Calabria are both out of contract in 2025 so more urgency is needed.
A renewal for the former Roma man seems unlikely, but for the captain it seems a mere formality. Calabria currently earns €2m net per year, a figure that the Rossoneri would not like to deviate much from and which is unlikely to find the player’s firm opposition.
The big shot
As mentioned in the last few hours, there are currently four strikers that Milan are following above all in view of the summer, when they cannot postpone an investment in a striker but equally cannot get it wrong.
Joshua Zirzkee, Santiago Gimenez, Benjamin Sesko and Jonathan David are the players on Geoffrey Moncada and Antonio D’Ottavio’s list and you the pros and cons of each option were outlined.
In addition to the striker who arrives, there will also be one departing (Giroud) but also one who will remain: Luka Jovic.
The Serbian centre-forward surprised everyone in the second half of this season and seems to have earned a stay at Milan, which they will make official by triggering their club option for an extension worth €2.6m gross.
Smart move to save the resources for the summer when you can invest them in players that will suit the playing style and tactics of the new coach.
It was smart to wait and not make any panic moves. We may or may not have a new coach next year and that will affect the players coming in and out. I don’t understand the targets though. Fans, pundits, Sacchi, and Capello are all highlighting the midfield as the area for improvement, yet most of the transfer rumours suggest defenders.
Defense:
The new Tomori? Last I checked, we had the original Tomori, Thiaw, Kalulu, Simic, Kjaer, Calabria, Florenzi, Jimenez, Theo, and Bartesaghi. We can definitely go another season with these guys
Midfielders: We only have six midfielders, four of them are basically the same player, three of them not good enough to play for this team. Need I say more?
Striker: Unless Jovic or Okafor blow up from now until the end of the season, we could definitely use a helping hand here but I maintain that a new forward will still struggle with the current midfield. I like Zirkzee and Gimenez but haven’t seen enough of Sesko. Dovbyk of Girona would be a dream. I see Scammaca (if he can stay fit) and Hojlund as possible steals as well
Defenders: Kjaer Florenzi are too old and probably leaving. Bartesaghi Simic Jimenez are too young and probably staying (on the bench). Calabria and Kalulu are too sloppy. Which leaves Theo and Tomori (and possibly Gabbia and Thiaw) as our only solid starting defenders. That’s not enough to get us through 3 comps next season playing every 72 hours imo.
I forgot about Gabbia and Terracciano. That’s more than enough. No need to do anything in defense for maybe two seasons
Florenzi too old? Yet he’s probably been the most consistent defender this season. Also almost as influential as Theo in the attacking zone. He can still be useful for a couple of seasons. Plus we need his experience and leadership.
I like him too – every time he comes on he seems to get an assist – but we can’t rely on him at his age.
Rely as a starter? No. Rely to play some 10-20 matches next year. Sure. And like I said, he’s a leader. Take Kjaer & Giroud away and we’ll definitely need him.
I’m content with this mercato, no silly panic acquisitions were made. Bringing Gabbia back was good decision as he proved to be reliable once more. Terracciano one for the future. I am however disappointed about Chaka’s loan, specifically about option for 10 millions.
As predecesors here pointed out, we need to wait and see who our coach will be coming summer.
I think we’re 3 signings away from being complete, if someone leaves at that expense then we need to replace him as well – ST, CM, DM and replacement for sacrificed asset.
Adarabioyo isn’t the new tomori as it no-one wants him and he’s not a prospect first and second try to find players that they worth our time and money .
In the next 3 seasons Leao Maignan Theo Tomori all of them are sold and they brought for leao Deulofeu Maignan to Sportiello Theo to Florenzi bennacer to amrabat giroud to dzeko
Sell Calabria
Who puts these stupid Lloyd Kelly rumours out there? He’s injury prone and plays for a mediocre team. He’s not good enough to cover for Theo.
How can Juve keep finding young gems and have a team full of young talents but we are always stuck with some random middle aged nobodies as the next big prospect. What are our scouts doing ?