5 Possible Forward Signings for AC Milan in Summer Transfer Window

Every year now, AC Milan seem to head into the offseason looking for a striker of some kind. They have not settled on any long-term combination of forwards since the days of Andriy Shevchenko and Filippo Inzaghi.

It's a revolving door. Marco Borriello was there for a season, then Alexandre Pato took over. Zlatan Ibrahimovic replaced them both, and then Giampaolo Pazzini replaced Ibrahimovic.

This season, Jeremy Menez has even played as a false nine. Not even Coach Inzaghi, the former target man himself, has found a solution at his old position.

So among the priorities this summer, once again, is a key signing up top. Along with rumours of a club takeover are rumours of a big spending spree, per the Express, even without Champions League football for a second straight season.

In order of likelihood, here are five forwards Milan could lure in the coming months.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Michel Euler/Associated Press

Ibrahimovic left Milan in 2012 as a result of budget cuts. Vice president Adriano Galliani even promised the big Swede the No. 10 jersey, per Goal.com.

Alas, Ibrahimovic was sold before he had a chance to wear it.

Milan have sorely lacked leadership since his departure, and now they could bring him back to fill that void, according to Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia).

The biggest obstacle is his salary. Ibrahimovic makes around €15 million per year at Paris Saint-Germain, according to L'Equipe (h/t ESPN FC). He would have to take a significant pay cut to come back, even if he's promised the captaincy.

His agent, Mino Raiola, seems pretty convinced that the deal cannot and will not happen.

"Zlatan will not return to Milan," Raiola told MilanNews (h/t Football Italia). "It's pretty much impossible."

Probability: 5 per cent

Falcao

Jon Super/Associated Press

At the end of his loan spell at Manchester United, Falcao will most likely leave England. He has hopped around Europe for the past several seasons, with his agent Jorge Mendes successfully negotiating big transfer fees from Portugal to Spain and France.

But the Colombian has only scored four goals this season, leaving his future at United in doubt. Milan could offer him the chance to start anew.

According to reports in Italy (via the Manchester Evening News), Milan are targeting Falcao as their "marquee signing." The 29-year-old is even an admirer of Inzaghi, who inspired Falcao in his early years.

"Inzaghi is a striker who I have always really admired because of his eye for goal," Falcao told Tuttosport in 2012 (h/t Goal.com).

The fee for Falcao, however, may be too much for the Rossoneri, even with a new ownership group. 

Probability: 15 per cent

Ciro Immobile

Michael Sohn/Associated Press

Ciro Immobile has not re-discovered himself at Borussia Dortmund, leading the media to believe that he's homesick. Sky reported in March that he is looking for a Serie A escape (h/t Football Italia), with Milan as a potential destination.

Immobile could be reunited with former Torino teammate Alessio Cerci at Milan. The two were directly involved in 45 of the 58 goals that Torino scored in Serie A in the 2013-14 season. They are a dynamic duo indeed.

But again, it would cost Milan. He signed only last year for Dortmund in a €19 million deal, and the German club will more probably than not look to recoup the majority of that fee.

Probability: 15 per cent

Gabriel Barbosa

All the while, Milan have been negotiating the release of Robinho, who has spent the entire season on loan at Santos. They are still paying 40 per cent of the Brazilian's wages—an unnecessary burden on a team with an already-high payroll.

Officials from Santos flew to Milan this week to hammer out an agreement for Robinho, whose contract with the Rossoneri ends in 2016. 

To ease negotiations, according to Lancenet (h/t Football Italia), Santos could offer Milan their own 18-year-old prospect in return. Gabriel Barbosa gained international attention after scoring 21 goals last season in Brazil.

Thought to be the new Neymar, Gabigol—as he is known—has a release fee of €50 million, but Milan could use Robinho as leverage in any possible deal.

Probability: 25 per cent

Mattia Destro

Luca Bruno/Associated Press

The most likely option up front is Mattia Destro. He has scored just three goals for Milan since moving on loan from Roma in the winter, but that is mostly due to a lack of service.

Milan do have an option to buy the player outright for €16 million, but journalist Gianluca Di Marzio's team is reporting that they are hoping to simply extend the loan. "Milan doesn't intend to spend the sum of the option to make the move permanent," writes Di Marzio's English correspondent David Amoyal.

It's believed that Destro would like to stay at Milan, where he will get prime starting time and perhaps a fresh start under a new coach next season.

This is the simplest and cheapest deal that Milan can do.

Probability: 40 per cent