With Dušan Vlahović practically lost as a target, he is heading toward a contract renewal with Juventus, and with Robert Lewandowski’s situation apparently becoming complicated, as he seems to be in contact with MLS franchises about his future, AC Milan has identified Moise Kean as the striker to sign (or at least attempt to sign) in the next summer transfer window.
Make no mistake: this is not a fallback option. For the Rossoneri coach Massimiliano Allegri, Kean is a first choice, perhaps even the very first. Reports from Turin say that inside the offices at Continassa, the ex Juventus coach actually preferred the Italian to the Serbian in terms of player profile, considering him more complete overall. Perhaps not technically superior, but more well-rounded as a whole.
It is therefore not surprising to see Milan moving for Kean ahead of a season in which the club will most likely return to the Champions League stage. For that reason, the team needs a center forward (a classic number 9) who can shift the balance of games. Someone who changes scenarios. A striker who decides matches, who essentially makes you start every game 1-0 up. In short, a forward capable of scoring at least 25 goals per season. In modern football analysis, even small statistical margins can change how a striker is evaluated, which is why performance metrics and projections often circulate widely online, sometimes even helping supporters make educated decisions on platforms such as 777 in order to gain important prizes.
After all, that has been the real gap between Milan and their title rivals in Italy and their European opponents in recent years. With the exception of the most recent and excellent, but aging, Olivier Giroud, Milan have not had a striker of that caliber for about ten years, since the two seasons with Colombian forward Carlos Bacca (2015-2017). Other teams, meanwhile, have moved forward and built successes (for example) on the goals of players like Lautaro Martínez, which helped secure a couple of Scudetti.
By targeting Kean, Milan would try to fill that attacking void that cannot always fall on the shoulders of Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leão. Both are outstanding players, but they are not natural strikers who consistently deliver high double-digit goal totals every season. They reach those numbers because they are exceptional talents, but it should not really be their primary responsibility to break down defenses with constant regularity. That is a task Milan would try to delegate to Kean, assuming the deal actually goes through.
The Italian striker’s contract with Fiorentina includes a €62 million release clause, a figure Milan will not pay, neither this summer nor ever, for any player. Negotiations will therefore take place with Fabio Paratici, the executive who could have been in charge of Milan’s technical area but instead ended up leading Fiorentina’s sporting department. The aim would be to secure a substantial discount, perhaps even 30-35%, with Milan reportedly even considering including Francesco Camarda in the deal.
Why would Kean be the perfect striker for Allegri?
For several reasons. The first is simple: the coach wants him. Satisfying Allegri already seems like a good starting point, considering how right he was about Adrien Rabiot. Moreover, at Milan Kean would reunite with his friend Rafael Leão, with whom he spends time off the pitch and gets along very well. The two even occasionally collaborate on rap duets in each other’s music projects.
For fans who like to follow statistics, they should also note Kean's potential and addition to Fiorentina's attacking line before placing any bets, as platforms that track player performance and offer mix parlay odds can provide insights into likely outcomes.
There are also technical reasons why Kean could be a suitable option for AC Milan to reinforce the attack. In fact, the player has strong technical ability, allowing him to combine well with teammates while carrying the ball. He links play effectively and likes attacking space behind defenses. For a Milan side that prefers building from the back and playing through midfield combinations rather than relying heavily on wing play, his ability to exploit space would be extremely valuable.
Physically, Kean is far from lacking as well. He is a number 9 capable of occupying the penalty area, battling with defenders, and constantly putting opposing back lines under pressure. He can also score the kind of "scrappy," close-range but decisive goals that made Filippo Inzaghi famous in the Rossoneri shirt.
One major question mark, however, hangs over the entire Kean-to-Milan operation, one that many would like to see disappear if the Fiorentina striker were to arrive in Milan.
A concern to note: he has reached double-digit goals only twice...
Are we sure he is truly the 25-goal-per-season striker who could guarantee Milan a bright future? Kean made his Serie A debut in 2016 and, despite being only 26 years old (he turned 26 on February 28), he has effectively been a professional for ten seasons. So far, he has reached double digits only twice: in the 2020-2021 season in France with PSG, when he scored 17 goals in 41 matches, and last season with Fiorentina, when he netted 25 goals in 44 games.
In all other seasons, at Hellas Verona (4), Juventus (1, 7, 6, 8, even 0), and Everton (2, 2), he never managed it. He is currently one goal away, which he will likely score, from reaching 10 with Fiorentina this season. But this campaign, due to injuries and the team’s on-field struggles, has already been far less convincing than the previous one.
Milan must be careful: choosing the number 9 this time cannot be a mistake. If the club decides to bet on Kean, who still has time to improve and finally reach his full potential, they will have to put him in the best possible conditions to score all the goals they need.
