Between AC Milan and Juventus, on Sunday evening at San Siro, there are crucial points at stake in the race for the Champions League. But the contest will continue even after the final whistle, which will be blown by referee Simone Sozza.
Driven by the desire to become competitive again for the Scudetto, the two clubs are also battling it out in the transfer market at this stage, with several shared targets.
Milan and Juventus hunting for a number 9
One of the differences that has created a technical gap with Inter Milan for both Milan and Juventus is the absence of a player like Lautaro Martínez — that is, an attacking leader capable of carrying the team with his charisma and consistently reaching double figures.
Robert Lewandowski is a clinical goal-scorer as well as a natural winner, and for this reason the Bianconeri are challenging the Rossoneri in a very complicated mission due to the costs of the Polish star, who will most likely leave FC Barcelona at the end of the season when his contract expires. The presence of his long-time agent Pini Zahavi at San Siro on Sunday is an important signal.
Goretzka opportunity
From one high-profile free agent to another, Milan have moved ahead of Juventus in the race for Leon Goretzka. The German midfielder is ready to leave Bayern Munich and has sent positive signals to the Rossoneri, who are offering a three-year deal worth €5 million net per season plus €2 million in bonuses. Final agreements on commissions and the signing bonus are still missing, but negotiations are at an advanced stage, although the Juventus camp still feels they are in the running.
The dance between vlahovic and kolo muani
Another interesting lead concerns Randal Kolo Muani: Comolli is working on bringing the French striker, currently at Tottenham Hotspur but his card is owned by Paris Saint-Germain, back. If he succeeds, Juventus’ CEO could ease off Dušan Vlahović, who is still waiting for a call to go to Continassa and sign a new two-year contract worth €5 million per season. However, Kolo Muani also represents an interesting opportunity for Milan, who are looking for a striker with those characteristics and have, in the recent past, sounded out Vlahović as well.
Allegri wants his players back
Sometimes they come back... Massimiliano Allegri blends pragmatism with a touch of romanticism in a rather unusual mix. The Italian coach always manages to get the best out of his players, also thanks to his strong interpersonal skills. He spent a significant part of his career at Juventus and formed a special bond with two players he would gladly coach again at Milan: Federico Gatti and Andrea Cambiaso. For different reasons, both are on the market, though not at bargain prices. Will Furlani satisfy his manager?
