How Marco Van Ginkel Can Solve Milan's Midfield Woes

Before suffering a devastating knee injury last season with Chelsea, Marco Van Ginkel was supposed to have been brought along slowly into the main starting XI. 

Van Ginkel was brought over from one of Chelsea's friendly clubs —Vitesse in the Dutch Eredivise—where he made a name for himself as a creative box-to-box midfielder.

His performances even got him called-up a few times to the Dutch national team, but dreams of a World Cup in Brazil soon diminished after undergoing major knee surgery last season.

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While he's still relatively unproven at the top level, he could be the ideal purchase for a Milan side that needs to focus on youth as they look to rebuild after two disastrous seasons in Serie A.

The 21-year-old can play in any position in the midfield, in a more attacking or retracted role right in front of the defense, making him an ideal solution in Filippo Inzaghi's 4-3-3.

The formation used by Milan means that the midfielders need to be versatile as they'll be asked to drop back and help defend as well as make runs around the box to help the offense when in possession.

So far, Milan's best midfield trio is supposedly centered around Nigel De Jong, Riccardo Montolivo and either Andrea Poli, Bryan Cristante or Sulley Muntari.

Montolivo brings the creative spark while De Jong is calm in possession, making the simple pass after getting the ball back. 

However, no third midfielder has really cemented their place in the lineup. Bryan Cristante has showed flashes, while Sulley Muntari and Andrea Poli are hard-working despite their inconsistencies. 

According to Milan Channel, Nigel De Jong has recommended his compatriot Van Ginkel to Milan, saying that it would be an ideal solution to reinforce the midfield. 

The Rossoneri need to move on from aging free-transfer moves and make signings like the youngster Van Ginkel part of the new transfer ideology.

Players like Michael Essien who are in the twilight of their careers will not be profitable for resale and won't be factors now that they can't bring their experience to the continental stage, seeing as though Milan won't be playing in any European competition this upcoming season for the first time in 15 years. 

With Van Ginkel, Milan can groom a midfielder who has the potential of becoming world-class in a league where he'll have space to operate and grow.