Olivier Giroud is increasingly close to leaving AC Milan and joining MLS side Los Angeles FC. But, it seems that another veteran could leave the club at the end of the season as well. We are talking about 35-year-old Simon Kjaer whose contract also expires once the current campaign is over.
As reported this morning by Corriere dello Sport, the Rossoneri management has already identified a possible name for the defence to pursue this summer. It is Maxence Lacroix, a French central defender born in 2000, who has been playing for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga for several years, accumulating a good amount of experience.
His name was also mentioned during the winter transfer window, when it was believed that - after Gabbia's return from loan - Milan would try to make a move for one more defender while waiting for the injured players to return: there were only initial inquiries with the Frenchman's entourage.
In the end, the Rossoneri had not found the right opportunity and had decided to stay as they were. Lacroix, however, remains an interesting name for Geoffrey Moncada and his team. In fact, Il Corriere dello Sport explained that even Antonio D'Ottavio was in Germany recently to observe the 23-year-old centre-back closely.
D'Ottavio's business trip proves at least that Milan's interest in the player exists and is concrete. As always, though, there's a long way from here to the successful completion of an operation. The fact that the Rossoneri are moving early, however, is very positive.
In Lacroix's specific case, he is currently valued at around 20 million euros: in 2020, he was signed from Sochaux for 5 million euros. His growth in Germany has been significant and assistance for Milan could come from his contract. In fact, Lacroix's contract with Wolfsburg will expire in 2025: this will allow Milan's managers to try to obtain a discount on the player that the Germans could risk losing for free a year later.
There is also Italian competition for the player, particularly from Juventus.
Among other profiles being monitored, Alessandro Buongiorno's is also being followed, but for now, the amount requested by Torino's president, Urbano Cairo, is off the market.
