3 Players AC Milan Could Sign to Solve Their Central Defensive Issues

Two decades ago, AC Milan’s defence was renowned. With a back four of Mauro Tassotti, Franco Baresi, Alessandro Costacurta and Paolo Maldini, the club conquered European football. Today, things could not be more different.

The Rossoneri’s incumbent defensive line pales in comparison to its legendary predecessor. This is particularly the case at the heart of the defence.

Aside from 21-year-old Alessio Romagnoli, Milan’s central defensive options are a disheartening concoction of players who are either past their best or were never that good in the first place.

As harsh an assessment as that may sound, the back line is in desperate need of strengthening, not only due to a lack of quality, but also because of an impending quantitative deficiency.

In an interview with Telelombardia (h/t Goal’s Ed Dove), club president Silvio Berlusconi admitted several centre-backs could be on their way out soon. “There are many departures in sight,” he stated. “There is also (Philippe) Mexes, Alex … and others.”

Indeed, three of the six players whose contracts with Milan are up this summer are centre-backs, per Transfermarkt.co.uk. And, should they depart, this would leave Romagnoli, the uninspiring Gabriel Paletta and 22-year-old Rodrigo Ely as the club’s only viable first team central defensive options.

Clearly, the Rossoneri need to add in central defence. Here, Bleacher Report takes a look at three players who could fit the bill.

Medhi Benatia

Oliver Kremer at Pixolli Studios/Getty Images

Age: 29

Club: Bayern Munich

Value: £13.5 million

2015/16 League Rating: 7.13

According to several sources, including Calciomercato and Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia), Silvio Berlusconi moved closer to relinquishing ownership of the club to Chinese investors on Tuesday after being “convinced” by the prospective buyers. And, if the sale does indeed go ahead, it could mean big changes for Milan.

Without European competition for a third consecutive year after a seventh-place finish in Serie A, the Rossoneri will need to find financial funding from elsewhere in order to reassemble their squad.

The potential new ownership is expected to precede spending on players, with central defence, crucially, an area of particular focus in this respect.

Corriere dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) reported that, should the takeover be concluded successfully, Bayern Munich’s Medhi Benatia would be a primary target, with a fee of around €20 million needed to persuade the German giants to sell.

The Moroccan centre-back enjoyed a fine 2013-14 season with Roma in Serie A but has struggled to impose himself in German football. He started just 13 Bundesliga games in his first year at the Allianz Arena, while in his second he made two less starts.

Despite his lack of playing time at Bayern, Benatia would be a classy addition to Milan’s ranks. He picked up an average rating of 7.13 in 2015-16, per WhoScored.com, and with his combination of aerial prowess and sound passing, he is a good all-round centre-back.

In addition to that, he is 29 years of age, meaning he still has plenty of playing time ahead of him despite boasting a lot of experience. He would bring a level of maturity to the heart of the Rossoneri’s defensive line that would only serve Romagnoli well to play alongside.

The only concern Milan may have when going for Benatia is his recent injury record. He missed large swathes of the 2015-16 campaign through spells on the treatment table for various different reasons, including thigh problems, a torn muscle bundle and a hamstring injury, per Transfermarkt.

Martin Caceres

Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

Age: 29

Club: Juventus

Value: £5.25 million

2015/16 League Rating: 6.76

Last season was not a positive one for Uruguayan centre-back Martin Caceres. He made just six Serie A appearances for Juventus due to consecutive injuries and subsequently fell down the Bianconeri’s defensive pecking order.

With Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini and Daniele Rugani all now ahead of him in contention for a starting spot in Massimiliano Allegri’s back three, the 29-year-old is set to leave the reigning Italian champions this summer.

Club sporting director Beppe Marotta confirmed as much when speaking to Tuttomercatoweb (h/t Football Italia), saying, "Caceres closes his relationship with us on June 30."

As Caceres’ contract is coming to an end, he will consequently depart Juventus on a free transfer.

He joined the Turin club for £6 million in 2012 and went on to establish himself as a quality squad player. While rarely a guaranteed starter, he proved to be a useful member of the team and would prove a solid addition for most other Serie A clubs.

His ability to play at right-back or centre-back made him the ideal player for the right side of a back three defensive scheme, which is what the Bianconeri used for much of his time with the club. Playing in this specific position utilised not only his defensive fundamentals, but his comfort in bringing the ball out from the back.

Operating in an alternate shape incorporating a back four is thus something Caceres is not particularly used to, though he may have to learn quickly if recent speculation regarding his next move is true. According to SportMediaset (h/t Football Italia), Milan are keen on the player and are willing to offer him a three-year deal.

There is competition from Roma, but should a move to the Rossoneri come about, the former Barcelona man would have to adapt to playing at the heart of a back four once again. However, with his maturity and talent, this shouldn’t prove too much of an issue.

The prospect of signing Caceres for nothing is an alluring one for Milan, especially when considering three of the club’s current centre-back options, Alex, Cristian Zapata and Philippe Mexes, are set to leave on a free.

Nikola Maksimovic

Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

Age: 24

Club: Torino

Value: £5.25 million

2015/16 League Rating: 7.12

Torino endured a disappointing 2015-16 campaign. After a positive start with four wins from their opening six Serie A games suggested they could improve upon the previous term’s ninth-place finish, they slipped and ended the season in 12th.

Nikola Maksimovic missed much of the first half of the season with a metatarsal fracture. After starting in the Granata’s opening two league fixtures, wins over Frosinone and Fiorentina, he was out injured until January 2016. His absence was a huge blow to the team.

The Serbian centre-back joined Torino permanently in 2014 for a £1.88 million fee after an impressive loan spell and immediately began establishing himself as one of the best young centre-backs in Italian football. Now 24 years old, it is believed that he could be on his way this summer.

Citing Gianluca Di Marzio, Jack Staplehurst of the Daily Express reported that “West Ham [United] have edged in front in the race to sign the Torino star”, with Manchester United, Manchester City and Napoli also interested in the player.

A strong, aggressive defender, Maksimovic is comfortable stepping out of the defensive line to thwart opposing attackers. He reads the game well, has good timing and is a rugged tackler.

He also brings value to his team’s possession game, showing ball-playing qualities that few centre-backs possess, while occasionally moving forward into the opposition half with the ball at feet in order to draw pressure.

Indeed, according to Squawka.com, he attempted and completed more passes per 90 minutes last season than any of Milan's current central defenders, and he created more chances, too.

His combination of technique, intelligence, physicality and no shortage of pace would make him the ideal partner for Romagnoli, though like Juventus’ Caceres, he would have to adapt to playing in a back four; he has spent most of his time at Torino playing on the right of a back three.

With plenty of upside and a Transfermarkt valuation of £5.25 million, signing Maksimovic could be an expensive operation for the Rossoneri, though considering his arrival would fill a key area of weakness, it would be worth the cost.

All values are from Transfermarkt.co.uk. All league ratings are provided by WhoScored.com.