The ideal AC Milan? We need a reinforcement per department. From Botman to Muani and Adli, the hottest names

Milan’s 2021 ended with a poker and some reflections to do. Questions to ask yourself. Replace Kjaer as early as January? More than a question, a certainty. Shoring up a midfield that will lose Kessie and Bennacer for the Africa Cup of Nations? Do you have another striker alongside Ibra and Giroud? Department by department, here is a briefcase of the Rossoneri situation.

Who after Simon?

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Kjaer’s injury requires reflections: investing in January is an almost obvious scenario, Maldini and Massara are studying the next move. At the beginning of the year, Pioli had asked for 4 level power plants to face the three competitions. Now there are only two left, the league and the Italian Cup. Milan is following Inter and watching their backs from Atalanta and Napoli. Fight for the title. Kjaer’s injury opened the doors to Romagnoli, his contract expiring and with a still uncertain future. Shady. Renew? Stay? At the moment everything is silent, even if Raiola’s words are open. “Alessio wants and can stay”. We will see. Meanwhile, the management is studying. Several profiles follow: the first on the list is Botman, a 20-year-old Dutchman. He plays in the reigning French champion Lille and costs 30 million. Many, too many in Elliott’s head. In the second row is Omeragic, 19, owner of Zurich, present at San Siro during the match against Napoli together with Cristian Zaccardo. It was he who invited him. Perfect profile for Elliott’s policy. The names of Luiz Felipe (close to the renewal with Lazio), Badiashile and Okoli are more secluded. Milenkovic to be monitored, as well as the return of Caldara, on loan to Venice and owner with Zanetti. Andrea Conti, never employed up to now, will leave in January.

Sos midfield

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Now the painful notes. January is going to be a tough month to manage. Milan will lose Bennacer and Kessie (as well as Ballo-Touré) for the Africa Cup, committed to Algeria and the Ivory Coast. At least a month out, between matches and the quarantine to be respected upon returning to Italy. At Pioli’s disposal, therefore, in a row of important matches including Roma and Juve, Tonali, Bakayoko and Krunic remain. On the first nothing to say, on the other two a separate discussion must be made. Bakayoko has never convinced: 334 ‘between the championship and the Champions League, 13 games, various failures. In the three outings in which he played from the start he was always replaced after 45 ‘. Performance begs a question: Can the French prop up the median? So far it has proved no. Krunic, however, quite another thing. Although he is not one to solve your matches, the Bosnian has always been ready. And in various roles: median, winger, false nine. He has played 17 games so far, of which 14 as a starter. A joker you can count on. Especially as a midfielder. The Rossoneri people are calling out for Yacine Adli, taken in the summer and left on loan in Ligue 1, but it is not as simple as it seems. On the contrary. Bordeaux are one point from the relegation zone. Adli is the keystone of Petkovic’s game. Difficult to bring him to San Siro from January.

The third tip

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Who behind Ibra and Giroud? Milan are also looking for a third striker. Pellegri is stopped in the pits for yet another injury, and so far his contribution has been nil. Six appearances, 131 minutes played, only one exit as a starter that lasted just a quarter of an hour. Against Salernitana, on 4 December, the ex enfant prodige of Genoa injured his adductors. Another stop. Evaluations also here: Ibra is 40 years old, he missed Empoli due to a knee overload, before he had stopped due to an Achilles tendon injury. He said it too: “My body is not what it was before”. The head yes, but it is not enough. Giroud, on the other hand, after the brace against Cagliari and a good start, was stopped by Covid and a couple of muscle injuries: 9 games missed. One of the profiles followed is the French Kolo Muani, born in 1998 from Nantes. Futurable. Sales chapter: Castillejo can leave Milanello, while Maldini should remain as a joker.