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AC Milan ended up being one of the most active clubs around Europe in the summer, but has their business fixed all the squad defects?
As Calciomercato.com write, Milan completed 37 market operations in total when adding new arrivals (10) to sales (27). It is a total revolution, accompanied by the arrival on the bench of a new coach in Massimiliano Allegri.
At the conclusion of the summer transfer window, Milan appear profoundly changed compared to last year, with a largely positive balance between purchases and departures – to make up for the lost income from the Champions League – but with many unknowns too.
Less quality?
While Allegri’s numerical demands for a smaller squad have been met – with 20-21 outfield players plus three goalkeepers – the current and final total of 19 outfield players (currently 18, given Jashari’s unavailability for the next two to three months) can be considered sufficient.
However, some doubts are raised about the overall value of a squad that has lost three starters compared to a year ago (Malick Thiaw, Theo Hernandez and Tijjani Reijnders), has seen the overall quality of many replacements decline compared to those who have departed.
The report writes that the squad is now depleted or has few or no alternatives to the starters in some specific roles or positions.
Which system?
Leaving goalkeepers aside (and as a reminder, Mike Maignan wanted to go to Chelsea but was persuaded to stay) the rearguard has been constructed in such a way that, whether a three-man or four-man back line is used, there’s a sense of incompleteness.
Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia and Strahinja Pavlovic are the players who conceded 58 goals last season. A signing capable of raising the bar and leading the others would have been needed, but instead Koni De Winter arrived – a solid addition – but also David Odogu who is just 19.
Davide Bartesaghi, coming off an unhappy but formative experience with Milan Futuro in Serie C, could be a surprise solution at left centre-back as well as acting as Pervis Estupinan’s backup on the left flank.
Wide areas
The real sore point in the transfer/sales campaign is the issue of the flanks. In the much-discussed comments of sporting director Igli Tare, he refers to an ‘unexpected’ change in the playing system that has stunned the management and forced them to adjust their strategy.
He’s referring to the initial idea of starting with a back four, which was later changed to a three-man defence at the coach’s suggestion due to a lack of viable full-back options. Davide Calabria, Kyle Walker, Alessandro Florenzi, Filippo Terracciano and even Alex Jimenez all left.
On the left, a big name like Theo Hernandez has been replaced with a player like Estupinan, whose individual qualities make him a different beast. Zachary Athekame is deemed not ready yet, and the option of a solution like Tomori or De Winter at full-back shows the shortcomings.
Abundant midfield
Directly linked to the dilemmas of defensive positioning are the unknowns Allegri faces in midfield as well. One of the Livorno-born coach’s greatest abilities is his ability to recognise a player’s strengths and weaknesses.
If he’s come to the conclusion after his first few weeks in charge that the club has provided him with three potential registas (Modric, Ricci and Jashari), it’s unlikely he’ll see any dramatic changes over the course of the season.
The last-minute signing of Adrien Rabiot addresses the need for a midfielder who can bring physicality and goalscoring prowess that wasn’t there before. But this begs the question: who’s left out when everyone is fit and available?
Currently Fofana, Modric and Rabiot appear to be the favorites for a starting spot with Loftus-Cheek, Ricci and Jashari all ready to fight to overturn the hierarchy.
No number nine
Allegri had indicated one priority above all others and Tare himself had repeatedly reinforced the idea that a true penalty-area centre-forward was essential.
With the Vlahovic option vanishing, and even the last-minute swap deal with Roma’s Dovbyk fading away, the manager has no choice but to work with ingenuity and imagination. He could persist with the Leao experiment as a false number nine or try to bring back the best Gimenez.
Above all, will Allegri find a way to fit Nkunku in? The Frenchman was acquired for €38m plus bonuses, so one would think he has to start, even if Max does continue with a 3-5-2 system.
Will he be willing to return to the three-man attack, sacrificing one of Pulisic and Saelemaekers, or will the former Chelsea player, at least initially, simply be a reserve?
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