AC Milan Transfers: 5 Players Milan Can Expect to Sign
Milan already have one of the finest cores of young talent in European football. Add to that a scouting network that is following the next generation of superstars and you start to feel optimistic about the team's evolution over the next decade.
The Italian Serie B is going back to being a fantastic feeder for the Serie A. Like the good times, the second division is producing a ton of quality youngsters who are being snapped up by the giants and making an instant impact.
Overall, this is a great sign for the Italian calcio ecosystem as a whole, and Milan has exploited it with a slew of recent signings.
Here are five players who have either signed or are expected to sign with the Rossoneri this summer.
Riccardo Saponara (Empoli)
1 of 5The 21-year-old Saponara has been lighting up the Italian second division with Empoli, and Milan made sure to snap him up during the January transfer window.
For his own development, Milan let the player stay with Empoli where he could get consistent playing time and continue improving his talent.
He's an offensive player who can either play on the wing or behind the strikers. Blessed with a Kaka-esque long stride, Saponara is ideal in Milan's 4-3-3 system and looks to make an impact next season. However, it will be hard for him to crack a very deep attacking core.
Jorginho (Hellas Verona)
2 of 5According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Football-Italia.net), Milan and Hellas Verona have reached a verbal agreement on a deal that will see the Rossoneri co-own 50 percent of the Brazilian midfielder.
Whether or not Milan decide to ship the youngster elsewhere for more playing time remains to be seen, but there's a strong feeling in the air that Jorginho will be a part of the club in a few months.
Bryan Cristante (Milan Youth)
3 of 5In an interview with popular Italian show La Domenica Sportiva, Adriano Galliani said Milan were ready to offer 18-year-old Milan youth product Bryan Cristante a five-year deal with the senior side.
I asked Bojan Krkic who he thought was Milan's most impressive player on the youth team and he instantly pointed to Cristante.
The midfielder has similar qualities to Redondo, but with a bit more pace. He will most likely find a spot in the starting XI next year, similar to the way in which Mattia De Sciglio has.
Kevin Strootman (PSV)
4 of 5The Dutch midfield maestro has drawn the eye of Milan in recent years and is expected to be one of the top summer targets for a Rossoneri squad that is lacking a bit of depth in the center of the park.
Strootman would add instant quality alongside Riccardo Montolivo, offering more in terms of long passing and vision. It will be interesting to see how cheaply Milan can get this prized acquisition.
Angelo Ogbonna (Torino)
5 of 5Anyone who has watched Milan this season will tell you that their biggest weakness is at the center of defense.
Torino president Urbano Cairo has tried to fend off potential suitors by putting a price tag in the region of €15 million on Ogbonna, which is more than Milan is willing to pay for the 24-year-old Italian national team defender.
If the Rossoneri are able to negotiate a fee, Angelo would instantly be the leader of the back line and give them a sturdy central defender for the next decade.
