Milan doubts over Nkunku role but January exit unlikely

Originally posted on Football Italia | Last updated Dec 23, 2025 2:20 PM ET

Milan are already asking themselves questions about Christopher Nkunku, but finding a solution in January will not be easy.

The issue is not only Nkunku himself, but also the role he has been asked to play. He has been required to do things that are not necessarily part of his natural game.

Only a few months after his arrival, in a deal worth around €42 million including bonuses, doubts are already emerging, particularly around the idea of using him as a centre-forward.

PARMA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 08: Christopher Nkunku of AC Milan runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Abdoulaye Ndiaye of Parma during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and AC Milan at Stadio Ennio Tardini on November 08, 2025 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Milan have doubts over Nkunku role

Nkunku has never been a striker in the classic sense. At best, he has adapted and tried to meet tactical demands, but that has never been the core of his repertoire. This inevitably fuels debate about whether the operation was correctly framed from the start.

In theory, if Milan were guaranteed to recover a significant part of the investment, selling Nkunku in January would not be a bad idea. The real problem lies elsewhere. When you make such an expensive signing in the summer, you must avoid generating a capital loss just a few months later. That makes any winter exit extremely complicated.

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND – AUGUST 16: Niclas Fullkrug of West Ham United arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Sunderland and West Ham United at Stadium of Light on August 16, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Unless an unexpected buyer emerges, Milan’s room for manoeuvre remains limited. Only under those conditions could the Rossoneri realistically consider alternative attacking solutions, independently of Niclas Füllkrug and including the Gabriel Jesus track mentioned in recent days.

This article first appeared on Football Italia and was syndicated with permission.

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