A Dream Final Week of the January Transfer Window for AC Milan

After another embarrassing Serie A defeat from Milan, massive overhaul is expected by a demoralized fanbase that desperately wants to see the Rossoneri return to their previous heights.

Even after the January transfer window arrivals of Suso and Alessio Cerci, not much has changed to address Milan’s biggest weakness. The squad needs a true world-class defender to anchor the back line and also another talented box-to-box midfielder to offer another option other than Nigel De Jong and Riccardo Montolivo.

All they have now is a stacked attack and a paper-thin defense and midfield.

Suso is another talented trequartista who can link up play and is definitely a bright option for the future, but it's unclear if Filippo Inzaghi will have room to use him, especially after Keisuke Honda comes back from the Asian Cup. 

Meanwhile Alessio Cerci is on poor form and looks like a shadow of his former self, so we'll wait to see just how much of an impact he'll have in his Serie A return after an unsuccessful spell at Atletico Madrid under Diego Simeone.

The January transfer window has grown in popularity in recent seasons as clubs have resorted to spending more and more during the halfway point of the season. It's a great way to try to patch up problems during the season, as Milan have done before in previous seasons.

A talented central defender in his prime like Nicolas Otamendi would be the ideal solution to really bolster the back, but it's unlikely as the Rossoneri have adopted a transfer strategy that only sees them purchase a player once one is sold for equal value.

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Milan have long been known for their ability to produce world-class defenders from the youth system, but the only notable defensive player to have come out the system in the past decade is Davide Astori.

According to Football Italia, Philippe Mexes will not be called up for Milan's Coppa Italia match against Lazio on Tuesday, citing corporate decisions as the reasons why. Of course, these corporate decisions have everything to do with Mexes' raging temper in the weekend clash against Lazio, where he was red carded for choking several Biancocelesti players.

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All this leads to Milan really needing a quality central defender to lead that very porous back line.

In more concrete news, Sport Mediaset (via Football Italia) reports that Mattia Destro is set to undergo a medical with Milan, although terms of the deal are not yet set in stone. Now that Stephan El Shaarawy risks missing the entire season with another foot injury, a striker like Destro could be welcome, as Milan sorely miss a real No. 9 to lead the line and offer a different dimension.

Destro hasn't achieved constant playing time with Roma and would be a welcome signing for the Rossoneri, who have looked stagnant in recent weeks, with no discernible game plan to really cause trouble for their opponents.

If Destro does sign, consider it a big boost for the club. He's still very young and has proven to be a quality Serie A goalscorer when he does start.

No matter the signings, the club has a lot of work to do on top of simply patching up a few issues to try to desperately get into the top five. The club needs a clear direction and transfer philosophy. Bringing in players like Mattia Destro is certainly a step in the right direction.