AC Milan remains inactive in the market, but the Rossoneri management has promised on several occasions that there will be targeted acquisitions to strengthen the team in all areas of the field.
While the priorities today are a striker and a defensive midfielder, the club is also considering a concrete move for a new central defender. With Kjaer’s departure, they might need one just to make up the numbers, but the club's intention could be to focus on a player with potential.
In recent weeks, the name of Serbian central defender Strahinja Pavlovic has been added to the list of candidates for a new spot in Milan’s defence. Milan's stance towards the 2001-born player has changed quickly in recent days. According to Gazzetta dello Sport this morning, if previously the club was considering a defensive addition only if a significant departure occurred, today they are contemplating signing Pavlovic regardless, no matter what.
Bringing him to Milan would offer several advantages: firstly, he is a left-footed central defender, a rare commodity and currently absent in Milan. Additionally, he is young but already has significant experience: always in European cups with Salzburg, plus a World Cup and a European Championship played as a starter with the national team. It would be a signing both for the future and to use immediately.
The report continues stating that Milan's management has already secured the player's agreement: they did so after establishing a connection with his agent Zvonomir Vukic, a former Shakhtar player. Despite being on the list of several clubs, including foreign ones (such as Brentford), Pavlovic wants to move to Italy. Previously, Napoli seemed to be ahead, but after the signings of Rafa Marin and Buongiorno, the Napoli club no longer seem interested.
The player's approval also came for the salary proposal: Milan would double his salary from 700,000 euros to around 1.5 million. Now, they need to reach an agreement with Salzburg, who won't ask for less than 20 million. The player is still young and has a contract with the Austrian club until 2027: the Red Bull team does not want to undersell its talent. In Milan's favour are the good relations established during last summer’s negotiations for Noah Okafor.
