AC Milan: 5 Possible Replacements Should Rossoneri Lose Nigel de Jong

Over the last few years Nigel de Jong has been one of the few men who has truly earned AC Milan's storied red and black stripes.  The Dutch midfielder has battled the occasional injury since arriving at the San Siro but never failed to turn in a full-effort shift.  Over the last season-and-a-half in particular, De Jong has been a bright spot in an otherwise dark period for the Italian giants.

The three-year contract De Jong signed upon his arrival expires at the end of June.  In September, the Dutch international told Tuttosport (via Mark Doyle on Goal.com) that he would like to retire a Rossonero, but extension talks have not been made public.  

To the contrary, most media reports have revolved around an imminent move.  The Independent is one of several British publications that reported last week that De Jong is in talks to move to Manchester United on a Bosman.

With their best midfielder potentially gone next year, what will Milan do to replace him?  With the team on a budget and Italian soccer in a general money crunch, the options are not what they once were for Milan.

What can be done to fill the hole De Jong may leave behind?  Let's review five possibilities.

Sami Khedira

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Khedira's injuries have left him without a place in Carlo Ancelotti's team.

Injuries are a part of the game.  Unfortunately for guys like Sami Khedira, that can sometimes mean losing your place in the team.

The German international has been limited to 24 league games since the start of last season.  According to WhoScored.com he's only played 296 minutes this year.  Given the mass of midfield talent on Madrid's roster, Khedira's place in the team's plans is becoming more and more unstable.

Khedira said during the winter transfer window that he was hoping to sign a new contract with the team, according to the Daily Mail, but with the road back into the first XI so difficult, it might behoove him to look elsewhere.

There will be heavy competition from the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and even Bayern Munich if Khedira reaches the open market, but if the possibility exists to grab him on a Bosman, Milan need to at least look into it.

Given the fact that he would represent a major upgrade over any incumbent midfielders, Milan would be the most attractive option available if starter's minutes were high on Khedira's list of priorities.

There are far richer clubs that could outspend Milan for Khedira, so the team would have to do some selling in order to lure him in, but if they could it would be an instant upgrade.

Daniele Baselli

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Baselli (right) is heavily rumored to be headed to Milan in the summer.

Atalanta's baby-faced central midfielder has been heavily linked Milan in recent weeks.  Last month La Dea's general director, Pierpaolo Marino, admitted to Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia) that "the deal for Baselli to Milan is real, but it's not done yet."

The 22-year-old would be a good young piece for a rebuilding Rossoneri.  Solid in defense, he is a good tackler and excels at positioning himself to make an interception.  His familiarity with Giacomo Bonaventura, who arrived this past summer from Atalanta, would be beneficial.  The two midfielders would be able to provide an effective link between the defensive midfield and players further up the field.

Of any possibility open to Milan, this move makes the most sense.

Asier Illarramendi

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Illarramendi is another Madrid player who is having problems breaking into the starting XI.

Another Madrid mid who has a hard time piercing the starting lineup, Asier Illaramendi joined the team in 2013 for €32.19 million—the most Real has ever paid for a Spanish player.

For all that money, Illaramendi has barely played.  He played in 40 games in 2013-14, but new arrivals this year have pushed him out of the starting picture.  According to WhoScored, he's only started seven games—five in the league, two in Europe—this year and has only totaled 648 minutes in 19 total appearances in La Liga this year.

To get regular playing time, Illaramendi is going to have to break through a midfield group that includes Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, James Rodriguez, Khedira and winter signing Lucas Silva.  That's a massive amount of competition, and Illarramendi is not at the top end of that depth chart.

Given the amount of money he cost them, it's doubtful that Real will let him go quite so easily.  If he were to find his way to another team, it would likely be as either a loan with an option to buy or a purchase with a buy-back option in the vein of Alvaro Morata's move to Juventus.

If Milan were to arrange such a move, they would get a good passer (he completes 91.8 percent of them in La Liga) who can make a defensive contribution.

Sebastian Rode

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Rode is buried on Bayern's stacked roster.

We've been talking a lot about players who are buried on Real Madrid's depth chart.  Similarly, Bayern Munich has a bloated roster and a lot of talented players buried on the bench.

Sebastian Rode is one of those players.  A talented passer, Rode has produced some eye-popping numbers this year.  WhoScored clocks him at a goal and five assists in the Bundisliga this year—in only 502 minutes.

Rode is stuck behind a glut of players.  Pep Guardiola has a bevy of midfielders at his disposal, including Xabi Alonso, Mario Gotze and Bastian Schweinsteiger.  Bayern also has players like Philipp Lahm, David Alaba and Thomas Muller, who are so versatile that they can be deployed as midfielders instead of their natural positions as defenders (in the case of Lahm and Alaba) or in attack (in the case of Muller).

Rode is also a rarity—a talented midfielder who could be quite affordable.  Transfermarkt.com lists Rode's market value at €9 million.  Even for a team as strapped as Milan, a number like that would be reasonable, especially for a midfielder who might solve some of their creative woes.

Bryan Cristante

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The sale of Cristante sent Milan's fans into an uproar.

The sale of Bryan Cristante this summer sent Milan fans into a frenzy.  The promising young midfielder should have been the cornerstone of a Milan rebuild.  The €6 million sale of the 20-year-old to Benfica was a major blow to the fans' confidence in the club's front office.

Here's the thing, though—Cristante has only played in five league games for the Portuguese side.  If the Rossoneri were to act quickly, they might be able to buy back their academy product for a wash at worst—and maybe even a slight profit.

Cristante put in one of the best individual performances the team saw last year and can develop into a creative force.  He's certainly not in Benfica's immediate plans—and if he's given full-time minutes at Milan in the future, it could accelerate his development into a potential midfield force.