AC Milan is ready to make a decisive move in the transfer market. The Rossoneri have virtually closed a deal in the meantime. Matija Popovic will arrive from Partizan Belgrade. The Serbian forward, born in 2006, whose contract expires at the end of the month, will sign until 2028.
The Rossoneri management's goal is to initially integrate the player into the Primavera team and gradually introduce him into the first team.
Clearly, this is a long-term operation. At the same time, Milan is well ahead in negotiations to sign Juan Miranda, the left-back from Real Betis, who will be a free agent in June. The Rossoneri's management has nearly secured him, but they'll attempt to bring him to Milanello earlier in January. Much will depend on the demands of the Spanish club.
The main objectives for January essentially remain two: a center forward and a defender. Jonathan David remains a top priority. Last summer, after scoring 24 goals in 37 Ligue 1 matches, the Canadian striker was valued at over 50 million euros. However, his performance this season has been notably different, yet Lille is not keen on offering major discounts. To increase their bid, Milan might consider the idea of selling to raise funds.
The most concrete hypothesis revolves around Krunic. The Bosnian midfielder was sought after by Fenerbahce at the end of August, but the Turkish club never reached the 15 million euros asking price set by the Rossoneri.
Now, the situation is evolving, and if the Turkish club were to renew their interest, Milan might still ponder over it. However, if he were to leave, there wouldn't be an incoming transfer. Looking ahead to the next season, Furlani and Moncada are actively pursuing Assan Ouedraogo, who currently plays for Schalke 04. Despite Bayern Munich's pressure and interest from other top European clubs, negotiations for the 2006-born midfielder (who has a 12-million-euro release clause) are becoming increasingly intense.
AC Milan's defensive line needs reinforcement...
On the defensive front (the other major priority), Milan continues to search for the right profile. Kiwior remains a strong option. The Polish center-back has no playing time at Arsenal, who are now open to considering a transfer. The Rossoneri are highly interested but only on the terms of a loan, at most with a buy option. Another route involves Gabbia, another ideal solution, but it requires approval from Villarreal.
Source: Niccolò Ceccarini for Tuttomercatoweb.com.
