With the way that the January transfer window has played out, the strategy of the Milan management has once again become obvious.
MilanNews reports that Vlahovic-level signings were not to be expected this month but the hope from within the club is that they will perhaps be able to make those big name signings in a couple of years providing the financial recovery continues, yet the fact that only Marko Lazetic arrived has left a lot of discontent.
A centre-back has not arrived, and the Sven Botman discussion will be kept alive over the next few months as the Rossoneri try to sign him for May, while the attempt will also be made to bring Renato Sanches in to take the place of Franck Kessie.
Nothing happened regarding the attacking department behind the striker either, despite the fact Brahim Diaz has shown that he is not enough to be the only playmaker and Junior Messias is proving that he cannot be a starter for a team with trophy ambitions.
Dejan Kulusevski was talked about but there was always a fear from Juventus that he could explode at Milan, because the Swede – unlike Bonucci and Higuain – was a profile that was destined to grow being just 21 years of old and filling a role where the club needed reinforcements.
Maldini and Massara had a reduced budget but they could have brought forward resources for the summer market. On the other hand, the recent history of Milan tells us that the club rarely spend big in January, and when they do – like when Piatek and Paquetà arrived – it doesn’t always work well.
The management believe the path they are currently on will lead Milan to economic health which, together with a constant presence in the Champions League, will result in the Rossoneri being able to afford Vlahovic-level signings without having to resort to loans, bonds and capital increases like their rivals have.
Of course fans harbour the hope that the ambitions of Elliott, Gazidis and others are to win the title now, but reality tells us that the path of sporting growth and consolidation of accounts has not yet reached that point.
More must-reads: