MN: Four months on, Allegri’s request remains – Milan at work to sign a target man

Last summer, Massimiliano Allegri’s transfer requests included a physically robust centre-forward. A few months on, that has not changed.

As MilanNews recall, Allegri wanted a traditional striker until the end of the window, so much so that Milan attempted to complete a swap deal with Roma involving Santiago Gimenez and Artem Dovbyk until the last day of August.

The deal fell through, and so the Mexican remained in the Milan squad despite the coach wanting a striker with different characteristics. His zero league goals so far this season are an alarming signal too.

Many targets

Four months later, we’re at the same point: Gimenez has not been convincing in this first part of the season, he’s now been out for a month and a half with an ankle problem, and Allegri continues to ask his management for a true No.9

Many players are currently being linked like Mateo Pellegrino from Parma, Mateta from Crystal Palace, Dovbyk from Roma, Icardi from Galatasaray, Zirkzee from Manchester United, Fullkrug from West Ham, and Panichelli from Strasbourg, to name just a few.

Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images

It’s important to start with a fundamental premise: Milan already have their starting strike pairing in Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic, who have scored 15 goals between them in all competitions so far (six for the Portuguese and nine for the American).

Excluding the Supercoppa Italia scheduled for a few days, the Rossoneri will play only once a week until the end of the season. The duo, barring any injuries, will have plenty of time to recover between matches.

The feeling is that Allegri wants a physically strong striker to use especially in matches against deep blocks or during the game if necessary. Regardless of motivation, there’s only one thing left to do: satisfy his request. Even if Gimenez needs a place first.