And just as I wrote that, Sky reports that Cerci has agreed to sign for us. It's almost official.

Whether Chelsea want him or not isn't really the issue here, I don't think they'd care either, BUT we do not own him, so I still don't understand how we could loan him, even if Chelsea don't care, is it even possible to loan a player we don't own? That's what I don't understand, i.e. can the deal really be completed in the manner the media is reporting?

As for SES, I want to see him given a proper chance in the striker position as that is his more natural position imo and he has never been given an opportunity to play there

As for his price, if we sell him now we'd be getting a small amount as he's not in great form and he's coming off an entire season out from injury.

After van Ginkel, yet another mercenary who doesn't wanna be at the club but has no alternative it seems. Great.

Truthfully Pippo? Few players want to go to Milan these days. The only way we can attract them is with wages. We have no CL (or even Europe) to offer and we're midtable.

There's also the problem, in Cerci's case, that his current (former?) manager has such close ties to Inter that it may have 'brainwashed' Alessio into preferring them, on top of the calamatous handling of our own pursuit of him last summer. And of course the simple fact they're in the Europa League and look certain to get to the last 16 past Celtic.

Ultimately we got him, and rid of Torres. Ok it seems he's not a thousand percent loved-up on the idea of us, but do you think anyone we signed last summer really was? As long as he does the job on the pitch and we get stronger, and maybe just maybe get that third CL spot and slowly become more lucrative so players will WANT to come to us rather than it being 'third choice' or whatever.

This was a VERY unique loan deal. It was a free transfer in every respect bar the wording. No one goes out on loan for 24 months. It just doesn't happen.

He essentially became our player, we took on all the paperwork, we paid the wages, not a transfer fee, and by the time the loan is over he's a free agent.

That said there's conflicting stories here about who is actually loaning him. Some say Chelsea are, others say us. And there's the bizarre situation where we're going to pay his wages while he's at Atletico. While they pay Cerci's.

It's truly weird.

He and Immobile are the only two strikers we've been linked to and both are far superior to SES based on goals/form over the past 12+ months. They score goals, for one. Something he doesn't do any more.

But I accept neither are exactly Costa.

But who else do you think this current Milan can actually attract?

Can't see us getting Illa, most likely our midfield will be Monto De Jong and Bona with Muntari, Essien and MvG in reserve.

As for SES, I won't flog my dead horse on this and would appreciate it if you don't either, but what would your reaction be if we do get another striker (be it Destro, Immobile or another) and he starts scoring immediately? Would you still prefer SES?

I really don't think Inter being in the EL has anything to do with it. I also don't think Simeone pushed him to Inter because from what I've been reading Atletico were furious at Cerci for risking the operation.

As far as I know, he promised to Mancini that he'd go there. That was before our offer to Atletico. Hence all the stalling. Atletico threatened Cerci he'd warm the bench for the rest of the season if he didn't accept our destination, because they badly wanted Torres.

Cerci on Twitter/FB said that he didn't have any preferences, but that he was simply evaluating all possibilities.

Milan Channel has confirmed that Cerci has agreed to join Milan.

So he's not, to quote you, a t*at? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

As an aside, is he a left or RW? The pic of him on his Wiki has him as a RW but he's clearly using his left foot.

Depending on what you believe...



He's a RW.

Agreed. But what is Inter offering? An even more depressing season with hopes of once again reaching Europa whereas we fight for the CL? As far as I see it, Cerci isn't exactly a star. He's a flop for Atleti who had 1 good season in Italy. I'd understand the kind of reasoning if it was Mandzukić or Costa we're talking about, but it's Torino's Cerci.

So if the guy prefers an even more unstable environment at Inter, I don't think it's a good buy. It shows he has not heart in this venture, it shows his ambitions are questionable as well. The only thing Inter have at the moment over us is maybe a better wage offer and the Europa league venture. The latter being a very questionable preference motive.


Destro is a big gamble I wouldn't take. He isn't exactly a prolific goalscorer and we need one who is.

The way I see it, we can either search for a more seasoned short-term goalscorer like Gilardino (why not indeed?), Gignac or who knows who or a young talent like Kramarić. There are certainly some fine prospects who would be more lucrative for us then the struggling Destro or Immobile (who won't leave Dortmund anyhow).

I was mostly talking about the general concept of the line-up/formation you posted not the specific names, if that were the case I'd have commented on the Rami/Zapata thing over Mexes for example (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

With SES, you know where I stand and I know where you stand.

For me selling him now while his price is at it's lowest and we'd be losing money on what we initially paid to get him would be plain stupid. I personally don't see Destro or Immobile as superior to him, at all. And personally speaking I'd like to see him getting a proper chance in a position that imo he's more suited to. But that's just me.

As for your scenario, I'd obviously be on board if any player we signed turns into a scoring machine (I just don't see that as likely), even if it means SES sitting out more for now

For me if it's a choice between Immobile or Destro, I'd definitely pick Immobile, I personally don't rate Destro, plus Roma want a lot of cash for him.

With SES in general, I don't see why it has to be an either or situation

SES is versatile, and if we do sign some other striker it doesn't mean that SES is definitely out of the picture (especially since Pippo mostly sees him as a winger)

What makes you think his price will increase in the future?