AC Milan Should Pull out All the Stops to Sign Lorenzo Tonelli in January Window

The January transfer window can be a source of opportunity if used correctly, but if abused, it can lead to financial wastage and over-inflated squads. For AC Milan, there is little room for error.

Having invested heavily at the start of this season, if they are to spend with just one week left in the current transfer window, the club cannot afford to do so without serious thought. They must carefully consider areas of weakness and ensure that any player they bring in will be an improvement rather than just an extra shirt number.

If the Rossoneri are in the market for another player, they should focus on signing Empoli centre-back Lorenzo Tonelli.

AC Milan manager Sinisa Mihajlovic isn’t in need of further attacking additions. Luiz Adriano had been linked with a switch to Chinese club Jiangsu Suning, but with the move set to break down per Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia), there is no need for Milan to add a striker, as Carlos Bacca, Mario Balotelli and M’Baye Niang are also available.

Meanwhile, Milan have a healthy supply of midfielders for all roles. Riccardo Montolivo and Nigel de Jong provide deeper cover, Andrea Bertolacci, Juraj Kucka and Andrea Poli are more box-to-box, while Giacomo Bonaventura, Keisuke Honda, Kevin-Prince Boateng and the returning Jeremy Menez offer linkage between midfield and attack.

There is plenty of quantity and quality in the midfield and attack, the only issue there regards who is selected and how they are lined up. Once Mihajlovic settles on one set system, Milan’s attacking game can be expected to provide more consistent performances.

The one area of Milan’s squad that doesn’t contain quality depth is their central defence: Philippe Mexes is past his best, and Cristian Zapata and Rodrigo Ely not of the required standard.

Alex has done a steady job for this season so far, but he lacks pace and is still liable to be caught out by fleet-footed, quick-thinking attackers. Also, at 33 years old, he doesn’t have much of a future. This leaves too much of the short- and long-term burden on 21-year-old Alessio Romagnoli’s inexperienced shoulders.

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Empoli’s Tonelli played against Milan last Saturday night, helping his side to a 2-2 draw as they continue to surprise with their results and comfortable league position, and the slick-haired centre-back has been integral to their rise from Serie B to the top half of Serie A.

Per Squawka.com, the 26-year-old is one of the finest defensive performers in Italy’s top flight this season. And, while form is temporary, there is plenty to suggest he has the characteristics to fit right into Milan’s back line.

Vocal and feisty, Tonelli could provide the sort of on-pitch leadership that Mihajlovic otherwise lacks. He is a voraciously committed defender and isn’t afraid to get stuck in. However, he is far from a stereotypically hard, one-dimensional centre-back.

As well as being aggressive both on the ground and in the air, he is an extremely intelligent reader of the game. His discipline and organisational nous are part of what makes Empoli’s high defensive line work so well.

Tonelli is ideal for a high line not only due to his reading, but because of his ball recovery. If turned or subject to long balls over the top, he has the pace to get back and harry the attacker in question. Thus, even on the rare occasions he is caught out of position, he still remains an issue for opposition strikers.

Having come through Empoli’s youth system, Tonelli formed an outstanding partnership with Daniele Rugani last season.

Rugani, who is only 21 years old, benefitted from playing alongside a tenacious battler such as Tonelli. Similarly, Milan’s Romagnoli could benefit from having a more mature, rugged partner beside him.

Mihajlovic has tried to make his defence push higher up the pitch and form a compact, assertive four, but this has not always been effective. The main issue with this tactic is that the players available to him do not have the speed and savvy to carry it out.

In signing Tonelli, Milan would finally have a player experienced in playing this style of defence. Additionally, they would be signing a centre-back apt in playing an attacking, possession-based brand of football.

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While not particularly elegant, he is confident in bringing the ball out of defence, something shown by the number of forward passes he makes per 90 minutes, which he contributes more of than either Alex or Romagnoli, per Squawka.

Tonelli could provide a more authoritative, composed presence to Milan’s back four, but if the Rossoneri want him, they may have to act quickly; teams such as Roma have also shown interest in the player, per La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia).

The acquisition of a centre-back may not be the most exciting of transfers, but Tonelli would add much-needed quality to Milan’s defence. Signing him would solve one of Mihajlovic’s major squad concerns, as well as aiding the coach in implementing his preferred style of football.