3 AC Milan Players Who Should Be Loaned out in 2015/16 Season

AC Milan is entering its second season in a row without European competition. Unfortunately for new manager Sinisa Mihajlovic, the roster he's inheriting is still sized for three competitions.

Milan's 10th-place finish last season means they'll have to play a few more rounds in the Coppa Italia. But with only that competition and the league to contest next season, there are far too many players in the squad.

With only so many minutes to go around, the Rossoneri aren't going to be able to spread them enough to make everyone happy and develop the team's younger talent.

There are a lot of players—youngsters in particular—Milan will want to see get significant playing time but also keep hold of. That, ladies and gentleman, is why the soccer gods invented the loan.

There is a lot of paring down to do on this roster, but there are some who should make a move while remaining part of Milan's long-term plans. Here are three of those players.

Gabriel

While it's not yet official, it's almost certain that 22-year-old Brazilian goalkeeper Gabriel will be loaned out this season.

The youngster spent last year on loan at Carpi and had a historic season. He set a Serie B record, keeping 23 clean sheets in 39 starts to help lead the tiny team from Modena to the league title and their first trip to the top flight of Italian football.

According to Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia), Milan is about to extend that loan. He's had Serie A experience with Milan, but he's never been a regular starter at the top-flight level. This season will be a key part of his development, and if he performs well, he could soon take over for Christian Abbiati as Diego Lopez's backup—and maybe his eventual replacement.

This arrangement will benefit all parties. Milan will make room at a crowded goalkeeping position—there are five within the senior squad at present—and Gabriel will have the chance to grow.

Simone Verdi

Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images

Milan finally owns Simone Verdi's full rights.

Milan is absolutely chock full of midfielders. Between deeper-lying players such as Riccardo Montolivo and Andrea Poli to box-to-box types such as Andrea Bertolacci, no fewer than nine midfielders populate the roster.

Even more may be on the way. According to statements from his agent to Antenna 3 TV in Italy (h/t Football Italia), Zenit Saint Petersburg's Axel Witsel has agreed to personal terms with the team and is now awaiting an agreement between the Russian side and the Rossoneri.

If Witsel does arrive, that would give Milan four players who can play the trequartista role in Sinisa Mihajlovic's 4-3-1-2 formation—Witsel, Keisuke Honda, Giacomo Bonaventura and Simone Verdi.

Verdi, who was listed as a forward by Milan, played as a trequartista under Maurizio Sarri at Empoli last year. For the last four years he's been co-owned by Milan and Tornio. The two clubs have sent him on loan to Empoli for the last two seasons before the co-ownership was finally resolved in Milan's favor this summer.

At 22 years old, Verdi is now in the later stages of his development. What Milan cannot do is make him sit on the bench and waste away when consistent playing time could turn him into a polished player who can contribute to Milan's rebuilding efforts in a big way. He needs to be farmed out. Potential destinations could be Sampdoria, who are gearing up for a Europa League run, or Genoa, who will need reinforcements after losing Bertolacci and Iago Falque this summer.

M'Baye Niang

Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images

Niang shone with Genoa after his winter loan.

When most Milan fans think of M'Baye Niang, they think of the teenager who came agonizingly close to setting up a famous Champions League win over Barcelona with a goal at Camp Nou in 2013.

Since then, Niang has been a fringe player at Milan. The young Frenchman has been loaned in the January transfer window in each of the last two seasons.

Last year's move opened some eyes. Niang scored six times for Genoa and notched a pair of assists to go along with them.

More impressive is that he did this all over the forward line. Gian Piero Gasperini played him on both flanks and centrally, and he impressed in each position.

Unfortunately, he may fall victim to the numbers game this season. There will likely only be two staring spots up front, and he's going to be blocked by Jeremy Menez, Alessio Cerci and new signings Luiz Adriano and Carlos Bacca. If Silvio Berlusconi's increasingly obsessive pursuit of Zlatan Ibrahimovic ever bears fruit, he will be buried even further down the depth chart.

At 20, Niang is still young enough to benefit from another loan. If he were to go out for a full season in a situation where he would be a starter, he could improve in leaps and bounds. His most recent team would be an ideal destination. Genoa have been stripped for parts this summer and could use a talented forward.

If Niang gets a full season's worth of consistent playing time, he might be able to fully develop his impressive talent. If he does that, he could turn himself into a key piece for the Rossoneri going forward.