Calling True or False on 5 Recent AC Milan Transfer Rumours
It's not a good time to be an AC Milan fan. The team is in the midst of a second straight disappointing season, and much of it has to do with a lack of quality in the roster.
That's a big problem, especially considering the fact that Milan has been the subject of financial constraints that haven't been an issue in the past. That has limited its ability to fill holes through the transfer market.
Despite its limited capacity, Milan has been party to its fair share of transfer rumors as the new summer window approaches. Today, we're going to look at five recent Milan transfer rumors and gauge how likely they are.
What moves could Milan make? What rumors are little more than pie in the sky? Let's take a closer look at the rumor mill and find out.
Dani Alves
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The Rossoneri have played Barcelona a lot in the Champions League over the last few years, and that has familiarized fans with Brazilian full back Dani Alves.
Alves' contract at Barca expires this season, and the rumblings from Catalonia are that the 31-year-old's financial demands are too high for their liking.
According to the website of El Mundo Deportivo (h/t Football Italia) Alves visited the city of Milan last month, fueling speculation the Brazil international could move to either Milan or Inter.
If recent history is any indication, Alves is the ideal target for Adriano Galliani—slightly past his prime and subject to a Bosman transfer.
Milan will have to fend off not only its cross-town rivals, but also the attention of Paris Saint-Germain in order to land the full back. The possibility of him staying in Barcelona is also there. With a transfer ban still in place, Barca may decide that re-upping his contract regardless of the cost would be preferable to waiting until the winter to augment their depth.
Alves would represent an upgrade to Milan's current situation at the position, but it would take a hard sell to get him to Casa Milan. If he hits the open market, the interest would likely be genuine, but whether the club can sign him will be another story.
James Milner
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Milan has gone to the Premier League several times to fill holes in its midfield. Nigel de Jong is a prime example, but he's unlikely to renew his contract with the club. Tuttosport (h/t Mirror) has reported he is in advanced negotiations with Manchester United.
With a hole opening in midfield, Milner—whose contract is expiring at Manchester City—could be an affordable alternative who still has a few prime years left.
Tuttomercatoweb reported in February (h/t Metro) Milan would be in on Milner's signature this summer. The midfielder will also have interest from Arsenal and Liverpool and has expressed interest in staying in England. However, for the right price, he could test himself on the continent, and Milan may push hard for him considering the hole De Jong will leave.
Like Alves, this will be a case of genuine interest but difficult execution.
Yacine Brahimi
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Milan has always been home to excellent attacking midfielders. Kaka is the most recent example, carrying the line begun by people like Ruud Gullit.
Yacine Brahimi could be the next in that line. A goalscoring attacking midfielder, he has scored six goals in league play and has added five goals and three assists in Champions League play, making Porto a team not to be underestimated by Bayern Munich next week.
Porto is known for exporting high-level players like James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao, and both Brahimi and Jackson Martinez may be the latest in that series to go to larger clubs.
Portuguese newspaper O Jogo reports (h/t Football Italia) Milan is set to target the 25-year-old Algeria international, but it's highly unlikely he will come to San Siro. It will likely take €30 million to pry the midfielder away from Porto. That's an amount that, without a cash infusion from outside investors, is simply not feasible for Milan right now, especially in the face of competition from the likes of Arsenal, PSG and Manchester City.
Brahimi is a nice hope, but unless Milan get a cash injection from outside in time to use it in the transfer window, he's far out of the club's price range.
Aleksandar Mitrovic
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Milan has had a problem at the tip of the spear over the last few years. Mario Balotelli started hot but cooled down considerably, and the likes of Alessandro Matri, Fernando Torres and Giampaolo Pazzini have been unable to do the job effectively.
The team thought it had answered its question when they landed Mattia Destro on a loan with an option to buy from Roma. But the youngster has disappointed as Inzaghi's target man, and it is was reported last month by Sport Mediaset (h/t Football Italia) that the team may not want to exercise that option unless it is negotiated down from its current €16 million.
That number is about the price Anderlecht has put on 20-year-old Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic. The youngster has scored eight times in all competitions this year, including his last five games running.
Tuttosport reported this week (again relayed by Football Italia) that Milan had scouts looking at Mitrovic recently, suggesting the club is on his trail and Destro may indeed be returning to the capital. There is likely only the money for one of the two.
This is a move that can happen. Mitrovic is young and affordable enough that Milan can make a serious move for him in the hope he can finally be the striker the club has missed since Pippo Inzaghi was wearing a Milan jersey as opposed to a suit.
Ciro Immobile
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After finishing last season as capocannoniere, Ciro Immobile attracted the attention of Borussia Dortmund. The German powerhouse was losing Robert Lewandowski to Bayern Munich and needed a striker to replace him. Immobile looked a good fit for Jurgen Klopp's tactics, and BVB struck a bargain with his co-owners, Juventus and Torino, to bring him to the Bundesliga.
Unfortunately for Immobile, he hasn't been able to replicate his success for his new team. He's scored 10 times this season, but only three goals have come in the league—where the team has uncharacteristically struggled—and he was practically invisible in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Juve.
This week, Football Italia relayed a report from German newspaper Bild, suggesting the club is now prepared to put Immobile on the market. It will likely look to recoup the majority of the €19 million outlay it made last year.
Milan has been connected to Immobile as his struggles have intensified, and this news is likely to put the club on the alert. The Rossoneri will have competition from Napoli, who may be looking for a replacement for Gonzalo Higuain this summer, but this is one race that they are almost certain to be in the thick of come summertime.
