AC Milan have struggled for clean sheets this season, and that is one of the things that the management are looking to address in the summer window as per a report.
This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) talks about some of the issues that Milan’s defensive department has encountered recently, starting with Pierre Kalulu who suffered a new injury during Sunday’s win over Verona and will be out for up to six weeks.
Kalulu suffered a ruptured tendon in the game against Napoli four months ago and this was the first time he had been named in the starting line-up since that game, so there is the risk of this turning into a very forgettable season for him.
Changes coming
Given how tormented the Frenchman has been by physical problems, Milan are forced to reflect on his future. In case of a good offer, the paper claims that he will probably leave, especially given that he arrived on a free transfer from Lyon and thus will generate a capital gain.
Geoffrey Moncada and co. already have the answer regarding Simon Kjaer: in a week he will turn 35 and can no longer be considered a guarantee. Kjaer’s body also deteriorated throughout the season and in general does not offer stability for the future.
On the contrary, the defence needs a couple of new faces. The other central defenders in the squad are Fikayo Tomori, Malick Thiaw and Matteo Gabbia, who returned from his loan to Villarreal to give oxygen back to a struggling defence.
Thiaw, 22, is a pillar to lean on. Gabbia will remain in an alternative role and Tomori has recovered stability, though Milan could wobble in the event of a very high offer from a club abroad.
The strategy applies to all the big names, and Tomori can now be considered a big name in the defence. Milan will listen and evaluate the proposals deemed worthy, as happened with Sandro Tonali. The entire proceeds would then be reinvested on the market.
Summer objectives
The summer transfer window is already appearing on the horizon, and the Milan management are beginning to line up potential deals to improve the squad.
Operations with Chelsea usually have a positive impact: it happened with Tomori and was confirmed this year by Pulisic and Loftus-Cheek. That is why Trevoh Chalobah’s name could re-emerge.
The 24-year-old returned to west London in 2021 after three loan spells and has played more or less continuously except this season. He was unavailable due to a thigh problem, serious enough to keep him out from August to March.
Once he returned from that, was immediately put into the team by Mauricio Pochettino. However, the Blues might well look to sell him and his current valuation is €10-15m.
One of the alternatives is also based in London, but at Arsenal. Jakub Kiwior moved to the Gunners from Spezia last year and was a spectator in the first part of this season.
Since he entered the scene, from the beginning of the year onwards, he has often played as a starter with a consequent increase in price. Arsenal paid €25m and will not offer big discounts.
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