After the choice of the coach, which remains the main priority for Igli Tare in these very first days of work leading the Rossoneri sporting management, among the tricky issues to deal with will also be the organization of the squad. Not only for signings, but also for those who need to renew or those who could say goodbye to Milanello during the summer. One of the players who, in this regard, is under close scrutiny is undoubtedly Theo Hernandez.
Theo's farewell?
The former Real Madrid player is coming off the worst season of his Milan career. Already worn out by August after having played in a grueling European Championship, he didn’t get along with Fonseca and never managed to raise his level of performance except on sporadic occasions. Not helping, in addition to possible off-field matters that remain private, is also the contract situation: the Frenchman’s deal expires in one year, in June 2026. He probably expected more courting from Milan during the season, which instead never came with an offer on the table. At this point, both Hernandez and Maignan are in doubt for next season, with the full-back seeming close to a transfer and departure, as reported this morning by Corriere dello Sport.
Who are the candidates to replace Theo Hernandez at AC Milan?
According to Corriere dello Sport, today they’re already trying to put in black and white two possible replacements, with two names currently in the lead. One is Maxim De Cuyper, a Belgian left-back born in 2000 who plays for Club Brugge and has been on the radar of the Rossoneri club for quite some time. Scouts were sent to observe him during this season: his contract runs until 2028, and his valuation is around 20 million euros. The other, more recent option, is Junior Firpo, a left-back from the Dominican Republic born in 1996 who has just achieved promotion with Leeds United, the club he’s been at since 2021. In his past: development at Real Betis and an underwhelming stint at Barcelona. Two advantages: he holds a Spanish passport and wouldn’t take up a non-EU slot, and his contract expires on June 30.
