There is a number that will make a difference in the coming months in the Rossoneri universe, and that could be crucial between a winning season and one without trophies next season: it is the number 9.
With Olivier Giroud's departure, the shirt and his place on the field remain vacant, and the management's mission will be to replace him adequately. According to Gazzetta dello Sport this morning, this is also what Paulo Fonseca, who is very likely to be Milan's new coach, believes.
According to the source, the next Milan coach, expected to be Paulo Fonseca, has made only one real request for this transfer window: a new center forward. Apart from this, the Portuguese coach believes that Milan's squad already has significant value and that, with the addition of a new offensive terminal, it could be competitive for the title starting from the next sports season.
The Italian newspaper reports that Fonseca has not imposed any other conditions or restrictions, not even on the sale or retention of any top players. Currently, the names for the attack remain the usual ones: the favorite is Joshua Zirkzee, whose cost (40 million release clause) and salary are not a concern. But the difference could be made by agent commissions.
Right after him is Benjamin Sesko, followed by other genuine alternatives: Jonathan David from Lille – coached by Fonseca over the last two seasons – and Serhou Guirassy from Stuttgart. The competition for each of these players is intense.
Fonseca clearly focuses on the new center forward but will not oppose if the club decides to propose new additions in other areas of the field. In this sense, Milan aims to secure a central defender, a midfielder, and a right-back from now until August.
As Furlani said, there will be targeted acquisitions. For the Portuguese coach, the priority will be to create value, especially starting with some of the players already part of the Rossoneri squad.
Firstly, Rafael Leao, who has already become a player under Stefano Pioli and now needs help to make that additional leap in quality. But there are other talents that Fonseca, according to the Gazzetta, believes he can revitalise: in this regard, both Pierre Kalulu and Samuel Chukwueze are mentioned. In terms of signing, this week could be decisive for the official appointment of Paulo Fonseca, who is currently still in Portugal. However, the feeling is that, once the season officially ends after the friendly in Perth, the new era can finally begin.
