Calling True or False on 3 Recent AC Milan Transfer Rumours
Milan's recent transfer policy has been one punctuated by confusion. Over the summer of 2015, the club launched very public pursuits of several players only for them to fail in their bids and eventually sign alternatives.
The two high-profile examples of this were Geoffrey Kondogbia—who chose Inter over Milan—and Jackson Martinez, who ended up in La Liga with Atletico Madrid.
Milan atoned for missing out on both by bringing in Andrea Bertolacci and Carlos Bacca instead, but such inability to sign supposed primary targets made it difficult to establish whether other transfer rumours were genuine.
As the club continue their rebuilding phase under Sinisa Mihajlovic, they will continue to be linked with several players of varying positions and reputations as the January transfer window approaches.
Here we break down three recent links, assessing whether the player in question fits Milan's tactics and transfer strategy before calling true or false on the rumour.
All market values are courtesy of Transfermarkt, while all 2015/16 ratings have been provided by WhoScored.
Hakan Calhanoglu
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The Rumour
According to Tuttosport (via Talksport), Milan are hoping to fight off competition from Barcelona and Arsenal to land Bayer Leverkusen’s attacking midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu.
Key Numbers
Age: 21
Market Value: €18 million (£13.3 million)
2015/16 Rating: 7.33
Brief summary
Seen as one of the finest young technicians in world football, Calhanoglu is a probing creator with a right foot capable of harnessing the ball in whichever way he chooses, something demonstrated by his unerring accuracy from dead-ball situations.
A Turkish international, he signed for Leverkusen prior to the 2014/15 season, joining the club from Hamburg for a €14.5 million fee. Since then he has cultivated his reputation and earned interest from clubs such as Manchester United, as Barry Glendenning reported for the Guardian.
Does he fit Milan’s tactics?
Sinisa Mihajlovic’s predilection for the 4-3-1-2 formation with a diamond midfield allows room for two creative players; one at the base and one at the tip of midfield.
At present, he has opted for Riccardo Montolivo to occupy the deeper berth, while Giacomo Bonaventura has been moved forward from one of the outside central-midfield roles to take the trequartista role from the underperforming Keisuke Honda.
Were Calhanoglu to join Milan, he would undoubtedly be utilised as the trequartista behind two strikers. This would, of course, be to the detriment of Bonaventura, who would be forced back into a more withdrawn position.
Calhanoglu’s signature wouldn’t seem to be a priority for Milan as Bonaventura has been one of their best players this season, while the team has more serious defensive issues to address.
Does he fit Milan’s transfer strategy?
In the not-so-distant past, Calhanoglu would not have been anywhere near Milan’s transfer shortlist. He’s young, talented and full of promise, as well as being highly sought after. Up until recently, Milan steered away from this sort, preferring older stars and free transfers.
This changed in the summer of 2015 as Milan spent big and changed their outlook on youth. These policy modifications were best evidenced by the signatures of Alessio Romagnoli, Andrea Bertolacci and Carlos Bacca. All three players cost a minimum transfer fee of €20 million (£14.8 million) and two of them are under the age of 25.
However Calhanoglu is purportedly wanted by some of European football’s biggest-spending, most highly reputed clubs, so to obtain his signature Milan would have to pay a huge sum of money and convince him to—at least temporarily—give up Champions League football. It's unlikely.
Verdict: False
Andrea Ranocchia
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The Rumour
According to Mediaset Premium (via Talksport), Milan are interested in securing the signature of Andrea Ranocchia from city rivals, Inter. To do so they will reportedly have to beat off competition from Premier League clubs such as Everton and Tottenham Hotspur.
Key Numbers
Age: 27
Market Value: €10 million (£7.4 million)
2015/16 Rating: 6.18
Brief Summary
Ranocchia’s reputation has taken a nosedive in recent seasons. After joining Inter as a promising young central defender, he has gradually dropped down the Nerazzurri pecking order.
Before he was labelled as a technically proficient, ball-playing centre-back, though now he is looked upon as a liability due to his tendency for misplacing passes and being caught out of position.
This season, Ranocchia has had his Inter captaincy taken from him and given to Mauro Icardi, while he is also no longer a regular starter, falling behind new signings Miranda and Jeison Murillo as well as the versatile Gary Medel. Despite this, he remains a regular Italy call-up.
Does he fit Milan’s tactics?
Given his aforementioned unreliability, Ranocchia would seem to fit right in with the current Milan defensive roster. In his inconsistent and erratic nature, he is very similar to the likes of Cristian Zapata, Philippe Mexes, Alex and Rodrigo Ely.
This, of course, is not a positive thing for Mihajlovic, who needs defensive improvement as opposed to more of the same. Alessio Romagnoli is a classy central defender, but he needs an equally talented, perhaps slightly more experienced, partner.
While Ranocchia is reasonable in the air and decent on the ball, he does not fit the bill as reinforcement for Milan’s back four. He is more a younger model of Mexes than a mature version of Romagnoli.
Does he fit Milan’s transfer strategy?
While he lacks the required skill to be considered a serious improvement to Milan’s current defensive options, he does fit the club’s transfer strategy. An experienced player currently employed by a big-name club, he is exactly the type of player Milan tend to go for.
Recent trends show Milan to neglect defensive issues in favour of star quality further up the pitch. This occurred during the summer transfer window, where Milan added just one defender while supplementing their attacking options with three new strikers and three new midfielders.
As he is out of favour with Inter, Ranocchia’s signing could be an affordable one for Milan, something which would allow the club hierarchy to continue their policy of breaking the bank on more offensive-minded acquisitions.
Verdict: True
Moussa Sissoko
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The Rumour
According to Calciomercato (via Talksport), Milan are planning to strengthen their midfield options by signing Newcastle’s versatile Frenchman, Moussa Sissoko.
Key Numbers
Age: 26
Market Value: €15 million (£11.1 million)
2015/16 Rating: 6.65
Brief Summary
Sissoko first made his name in Ligue 1 with Toulouse before moving to Newcastle halfway through the 2012/13 season for a £1.5 million fee. Since then he has shown himself to be a somewhat enigmatic force.
A regular French international, Sissoko was initially viewed as the perfect Premier League midfielder; physically robust, hard working and dynamic. However after a strong start to life in England, he has gradually become less and less influential.
While seemingly lacking the finesse to contribute in central midfield, he is also not a natural wide man in spite of his pace. As a result, he has been shunted around and used in multiple positions without truly living up to his original billing.
Does he fit Milan’s tactics?
Sissoko is certainly not a priority signing for Milan from a tactical standpoint. The club brought in the likes of Andrea Bertolacci, Juraj Kucka and Jose Mauri over the summer and so wouldn't appear to need extra central midfielders.
However, issues of depth could leave Mihajlovic needing reinforcements in this area. Bertolacci has yet to fit in, while questions remain over the quality of Milan’s backup options, such as Nigel de Jong and Antonio Nocerino.
Sissoko could bring box-to-box energy to a Milan midfield that has often looked open in transition to defence this season.
Does he fit Milan’s transfer strategy?
The signing of Sissoko seems too bizarre for Milan to justify. He’s not approaching his 30s and isn’t out of contract any time soon, nor is he a player with the requisite sprinkling of star quality to justify a huge transfer outlay.
In this vein, it’s difficult to see where the Frenchman fits into Milan’s short or long-term transfer strategy.
While he has the athletic qualities to add competition for places in an area of weakness for Milan, the club is unlikely to pour their finances away on a squad player.
