11 Players AC Milan Should Clear out in Summer Transfer Window
For AC Milan, this summer could prove pivotal to any chance of rejuvenation after missing out on European football for three consecutive years.
A change in ownership could be on the horizon, with the club in the process of being taken over by Chinese investors.
Current Rossoneri president Silvio Berlusconi discussed the ongoing negotiations when speaking to Radio Radio (h/t Football Italia):
"There are several big Chinese businesses that expressed a desire to be part of the property of Milan. They have an enormous revenue and the support of the state. They're the ones who are wondering what percentage (of the stakes) they should take. I want to clarify that whoever follows in my steps must formally agree to make the necessary investments to bring Milan back to the top of Italy, Europe and the world. We require the certainty that these gentlemen want to make of Milan a giant of world football.
"
The prospect of Milan competing once again for honours is an enticing one, though after years of underperformance, an overhaul of players would be necessary to revitalise a squad that simply does not live up to the club’s illustrious past.
Here, Bleacher Report takes a look at 11 players who the Rossoneri should clear out this summer.
Michael Agazzi
1 of 11
At 31 years of age, goalkeeper Michael Agazzi is in need of first-team football, and he is unlikely to get that at Milan.
After a successful spell with Cagliari, he spent six months with Chievo before moving to the San Siro, but he has yet to play a game for the Rossoneri. He joined Middlesbrough on loan for the entirety of the 2015-16 season, but he failed to secure the number one jersey ahead of Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.
He has one year left on his contract with Milan but, with Gianluigi Donnarumma, Diego Lopez and Gabriel, he would only be the team’s fourth-choice ‘keeper should he stay. The sensible decision for both club and player would be for Agazzi to move on.
Kevin-Prince Boateng
2 of 11
Kevin-Prince Boateng returned to Milan on a short-term deal in January following a spell in the German Bundesliga with Schalke. However, he is unlikely to be offered an extension to his contract.
In April, MilanNews (h/t Football Italia) reported that the Ghanaian would be allowed to leave at the end of the 2015-16 season and, having failed to make a real impact on the first team, his departure is to be expected.
Boateng made just one Serie A start during the campaign and, with a poor average rating of 6.29 per WhoScored.com, he didn’t do enough to justify staying with Milan beyond this summer.
Mattia De Sciglio
3 of 11
Despite his ability to play on either flank, Mattia De Sciglio was unable to establish himself as a regular in Milan’s first team in 2015-16. The Italy international was beaten to the right-back berth by Ignazio Abate, while Luca Antonelli asserted himself upon the left-back position.
The 23-year-old still has time on his side, but with 19-year-old Davide Calabria coming through the club’s Primavera to challenge for the right-sided berth, promise is no longer a valid reason to keep him on the club’s books.
Calciomercato reported that De Sciglio is wanted by both Juventus and Bayern Munich. And, should either team offer Milan a reasonable fee, it would be in the best interests of both club and player to part ways.
Diego Lopez
4 of 11
Diego Lopez was solid in his debut campaign for Milan in 2014-15, but his second term with the club wasn’t anywhere near as impressive. The Spanish goalkeeper lost his number one spot after just eight league games, which included some nervous performances.
He lost his place to precocious 17-year-old Donnarumma and was unable to win his position back after a spell out through injury.
With Gabriel set to return from his loan spell with Napoli, Lopez may soon be the club’s third-choice ‘keeper. However, the possibility of being so low down the pecking order could prove difficult for him to handle and, consequently, a move may be wise to avoid issues with player morale.
Alessandro Matri
5 of 11
Despite not appearing for the club for over two years, Alessandro Matri is still technically a Milan player. He spent 2015-16 on loan at Lazio, while in previous seasons he played, temporarily, for Juventus, Genoa and Fiorentina.
The 31-year-old striker scored just four times last season and should be moved on to free up space for a player with a better chance of first-team football.
Jeremy Menez
6 of 11
Jeremy Menez was Milan’s top scorer with 16 goals in 2014-15, but he was unable to build upon that form due to a spate of back and hip injuries. As a result, he made just 10 league appearances in 2015-16, scoring two goals.
While the Frenchman suffered a prolonged period of time on the treatment table, he was also far from effective when back to fitness, lacking the audacity and vision of his first season with the club, as discussed in this post.
Menez is valued at £9 million by Transfermarkt, and given he is no longer a first-team regular, Milan should seriously consider allowing him to leave for the correct fee.
Philippe Mexes
7 of 11
Philippe Mexes was unexpectedly handed a one-year contract extension with Milan last summer, though the French centre-back is unlikely to be offered a similar deal this time around.
At 34 years of age, he is past his best and made just four league starts for the club in 2015-16.
Furthermore, club president Berlusconi confirmed that the player could be on his way out during an interview with Telelombardia (h/t Goal's Ed Dove), saying, “There are many departures in sight, and Mario (Balotelli) is one who will end his contract with us. There is also Mexes, Alex, Boateng and others, all five are at the end of their contract.”
Milan desperately need to refresh their centre-back options, and allowing Mexes’ contract to expire would be a positive start to a summer overhaul in this particular area.
Gabriel Paletta
8 of 11
Gabriel Paletta spent 2015-16 on loan at Atalanta and, with an average rating of 6.78 per WhoScored, did little during his time in Bergamo to convince Milan to bring him back into their first team.
The 30-year-old centre-back should join Mexes in leaving the club this summer if the Rossoneri want to improve in central defence.
Andrea Poli
9 of 11
Andrea Poli was unable to force his way into Milan’s midfield in 2015-16, despite there often being three central berths up for grabs. The 26-year-old made just four starts in Serie A, with Juraj Kucka, Riccardo Montolivo and Andrea Bertolacci all ahead of him in the pecking order.
Although he's a hard worker, he lacks creativity; indeed, he made just 0.4 key passes per game, and with 20-year-old Jose Mauri and 18-year-old Manuel Locatelli breaking through towards the end of last season, he doesn’t seem to have much of a future with the club.
Fernando Torres
10 of 11
Fernando Torres played an integral role for Atletico Madrid in their run to 2016’s Champions League final, though his loan deal with the Spanish club is set to end this summer. At that point, he will return to Milan.
However, with his contract up on June 30, per Transfermarkt, it’s hard to imagine the striker staying on with the Rossoneri. He has scored just once in 10 games for the club and struggled to adapt to Serie A.
Cristian Zapata
11 of 11
2015-16 was a season of inconsistency for Cristian Zapata. The hulking centre-back mixed solid displays of assured defending with chaotic showings of incoherence and, as a result, failed to bookmark a first-team place ahead of Alessio Romagnoli and Alex.
At 29 years old, the Colombian doesn’t have much upside and, with his contract up this summer, should be allowed to leave on a free transfer to create squad and financial space for Milan to rebuild the centre of their defence.
