Keys to a Successful 2016 January Transfer Window for AC Milan
In a season that has thus far underwhelmed, AC Milan have one last chance on the near horizon to augment their squad.
With the January transfer window almost upon us, the Rossoneri may take this opportunity to bring in new players and dispense with squad members they view as below the required standard in order to take themselves to greater heights.
The transfer window is by no means a sure-fire route to success, as Milan fans are fully aware of, but when things don’t appear to be improving on the training ground, this method simply cannot be ignored.
Here we at Bleacher Report provide a detailed breakdown of the steps Milan should follow to succeed in the January transfer window.
Maximise What Is Already Available
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One of the first questions Milan as a club must ask itself before splashing out in the January transfer window is, “Are we getting the best out of the squad we already have?”
On first glance at Milan’s points tally, position in Serie A and squad valuation, the answer to that question is a fairly resounding no.
They lie sixth in the league table, but with just eight wins from 17 games, they are closer to Sampdoria in 14th than they are to city rivals Inter in first.
Yet according to Transfermarkt, the total market value of Milan’s first-team squad is more than twice that of Sampdoria’s and is the fifth-most expensive in Serie A altogether.
As such, it is not speculative to suggest Milan are underperforming with the players they already have at their disposal.
In fairness, Sinisa Mihajlovic has been without several key members of the squad. Jeremy Menez, Milan’s top scorer last season, has been injured since August while Mario Balotelli, who showed such promise initially following his return to the San Siro, has also been on the treatment table of late.
Losing two of his most audacious attacking players was an unfortunate fate for Mihajlovic to suffer, though it is also worth noting several of his other squad members appear to have been underutilised since the coach arrived in the summer.
Andrea Bertolacci has only recently began to exhibit the kind of form expected of him since joining from Roma for a €20 million fee in June, while younger talents such as Davide Calabria and Jose Mauri clearly have more to offer the team.
Milan must also realise the competition they are up against in the next six months before spending in January.
With the top three unlikely, a top-six aim and a return to European football seems a more realistic ambition. Hence Milan must compare their squad not to the likes of Inter, Juventus and Napoli but to Sassuolo, Empoli and Lazio.
Many of those players Milan may use but not particularly value, such as Alex, Andrea Poli and Alessio Cerci, could easily do a good job for the aforementioned three clubs. Milan should consider that before deeming such talent unworthy or, worse yet, expendable.
Have an Intelligent Clear-out
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While there are undoubtedly players whose potential remains unfulfilled with Milan, there are also certain individuals for whom a move as soon as possible may be beneficial for all parties involved.
After finding himself benched in favour of 16-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma, Spanish goalkeeper Diego Lopez has been without regular football of late and, at the age of 34, may wish to move on.
And, as Metro’s George Bellshaw detailed, he could be on Liverpool’s list of January transfer targets. “The former Real Madrid star...is being lined up for a move to Anfield, according to Fichajes who cite Calciomercato,” Bellshaw wrote.
With Donnarumma showcasing he is of the quality to retain his place between the posts while also being in possession of abundant potential for development, as well as the fact Milan can call on the experienced Christian Abbiati to deputise, the sale of Lopez may be worthwhile.
Colombian centre-back Cristian Zapata’s contract at the San Siro runs out at the end of this season, but given he has fallen behind Alessio Romagnoli, Alex and Philippe Mexes in the defensive pecking order, he could be tempted to depart sooner.
Nigel de Jong’s contract is set to last until 2018, although the 31-year-old did his future with the club no favours after being sent off and giving away a penalty in his most recent appearance, a 1-1 draw with Verona on 13 December.
That was the Dutch destroyer’s sole outing since late September, and with the less temperamental Riccardo Montolivo, Andrea Bertolacci, Juraj Kucka and Andrea Poli also competing for the two central-midfield berths in Mihajlovic’s 4-4-2, he could also exit in January.
According to TMW (h/t talkSPORT, Premier League leaders Leicester City have shown an interest in De Jong, suggesting a possible January transfer is not out of the question.
In addition to Lopez, Zapata and De Jong, Keisuke Honda is another fringe first-team player who has lacked frequent outings, and with Kevin Prince-Boateng joining the club in January, the Japanese playmaker may opt to search for another employer.
The transferring of these four players would be intelligent work primarily because of their specific situations. All are unnecessary squad-fillers who have offered extremely little to the team in recent months but are also of an age and ability to bring in money that could be reinvested.
According to Transfermarkt, the combined market value for Lopez, Zapata, De Jong and Honda stands at £15.4 million.
With Zapata’s contract set to expire next summer, that value would probably not be realised in the January window, but Milan could nonetheless garner significant fees for the other three players—enough to reuse to strengthen weak areas of the starting lineup.
Identify and Improve Specific Areas of Weakness
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Milan’s approach to signings in the January window must be carefully considered. In the past, the club has utilised a more scattergun policy of bringing in quantity, but the current side is only in need of a few well-thought-through player additions.
With Mexes and Alex both in their 30s and past their best, Rodrigo Ely evidently not yet up to the task of Serie A football and Zapata likely to leave soon, a centre-back must be a priority.
The 20-year-old Romagnoli has adeptly settled into Mihajlovic’s back line and already appears comfortable with the level of influence he has in spite of his youth, though he could do with a quality right-sided partner.
Another area Milan may wish to augment is the wide areas of their attack, especially seeing as Mihajlovic has had the team operating in a 4-4-2 formation in recent fixtures and looks set to use this system going forward.
Giacomo Bonaventura is thriving on the left wing, but on the right Honda, Alessio Cerci and M’Baye Niang have either struggled to find form or not got to grips with the role itself.
Once the areas of weakness have been identified, it is imperative Milan bring in the correct players to fill them. To do this, they do not need to look far; indeed, their first glances should be around the peninsula.
At centre-back, Torino pair Nikola Maksimovic and Kamil Glik would be worth considering, though with Glik’s loyalty to the Granata and Maksimovic’s recent injury woes, perhaps Empoli’s Lorenzo Tonelli would be a more realistic option.
With his slick hair and snarling persona, Tonelli has developed a reputation for his uncompromising attitude on the pitch, but he is also an underrated defender. He has excellent ball-recovery skills, is fast over short distances and capable of organising the defensive line.
Per Squawka’s performance ratings, he is one of the finest central defenders in Italy and would no doubt relish the opportunity to play for a club of Milan’s ilk.
As far as the wide-right berth is concerned, Milan—according to talkSPORT, citing sources in Italy—are keen on Palermo’s Franco Vazquez. While naturally a trequartista, the Italy international is a left-footer and could cut in from the right just as the right-footed Bonaventura does from the left.
Both Tonelli and Vazquez are players who know Serie A well and thus would take little time to settle in—and should also be interested in a move to a club such as Milan.
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