AC Milan, thanks to the win against Genoa, have entered the international break with the top spot in the league secured. They lead with two points ahead of Inter who were held back after a draw against none other than Bologna at the San Siro.
It will be a demanding schedule after the break. Depth will be needed. If Marco Sportiello can do the job between the posts to replace Maignan who received a red card against Genoa, there is the need to also replace Theo Hernandez who was booked.
The left-back position is an issue for Milan. After letting Fodé Ballo-Touré leave, no reinforcement arrive. Pioli is left with Alessandro Florenzi who is mainly a right-back and the inexperienced Davide Bartesaghi.
The AC Milan management that is made of Giorgio Furlani, Geoffrey Moncada and Antonio D'Ottavio who are in charge of the transfer market operations, are working on strengthening that defensive left flank. Evaluations are ongoing to find the right talent on a good price.
In the summer, there have been various names noted in the notebook of the Rossoneri management that has never stopped studying their profiles.
After many internal talks, the eyes of Milan have focused on Juan Miranda, a 2000-born left-back for Real Betis, who is out of contract with the Andalusian club on June 30, 2024. The Spaniard has been identified as the ideal reinforcement on the left wing and as backup of Theo Hernandez.
Already in the summer, there had been some contacts with his entourage but the deal never took off, thanks to the difficulties in selling Fodé Ballo-Tourè. But this is the past, the future speaks of a new confrontation with Miranda's agents that will take place during the international break. But for the AC Milan managers, it will not be an easy mission.
The scenario, for the Rossoneri, can change drastically in the coming weeks for two factors, essentially. First of all, the will of Betis not to lose the player for free, allowing him to sign with a new club at the beginning of the new year. The Andalusian club has, in fact, started contract renewal negotiations and is pressing for the AC Milan target to accept to extend his agreement, and then, only if necessary, to negotiate his sale, as per Calciomercato.com.
AC Milan's stance regarding Juan Miranda
AC Milan's priority on Miranda could change due to the strong competition from some top European clubs (including Juventus in Italy), especially from that Barcelona that saw the Spaniard grow up within its own youth ranks. Two factors that can change the scenarios for the Milanese club, ready to accelerate operations to secure the future Theo Hernandez's backup and no longer find themselves in emergency in the left-back position.
