Tuttosport: Milan resume search for the right No.9 – Arsenal man among three candidates

With Jean-Philippe Mateta now crossed off the list, AC Milan are looking ahead to a summer window in which they again need to sign a striker.

As Tuttosport (via MilanNews) report this morning, the Milan management will now tasked with choosing the right man to lead the attack for next season and beyond. Mateta seemed like the man, but the knee issues that his medical revealed have put a stop to things for good.

With Santiago Gimenez ‘s future hanging in the balance, as well as those of Niclas Füllkrug and Christopher Nkunku, Massimiliano Allegri needs a reliable No.9, capable of 15-20 goals per season and ideally with experience in Serie A.

The leading candidates

The name that’s doing the rounds is Moise Kean. Allegri likes him, having launched him at Juventus and having admired his growth and maturity from afar. The 19 league goals he scored for Fiorentina last season demonstrate what he can do.

The 25-year-old fits the club’s criteria, but snatching him from Fiorentina won’t be easy, given his €62m release clause, which can be activated by mid-July.

Photos: Timothy Rogers + Simone Arveda/Getty Images

Also in the background is Dusan Vlahovic, another of Allegri’s former players. The Serbian has high financial demands however when it comes to salary and commissions, which are currently holding back a potential move from Milan.

The third option is the most intriguing: Gabriel Jesus . The Brazilian, contracted to Arsenal until June 2027, has returned to prominence after an injury-hit spell and is being closely monitored by the Diavolo.

His name was first floated in January, and the lack of concrete developments regarding his renewal with the Gunners – combined with his decision to rely on an Italian agent – has fuelled things. Milan are watching closely, and might pounce under the right conditions.