Reports everywhere that Hakan is inclining to accept our offer and renew his contract, mainly because he has no other interesting offers and that Qatar deal does not motivate him enough.

Now, two things: 1) I really wish we signed a better #10. For such an important role, having someone so inconsistent that (sometimes) plays well against small clubs but disappears against tough opponents is just not acceptable. 2) The fact he's renewing because nobody else wants him shows zero dedication to the Milan shirt.

He has to give an answer before Friday.

Also, Gazzetta today reported on the front page that we're interested in Chelsea's Ziyech. The guy earns 7M and has a high market value (Chelsea payed 40M last summer for him).

Personally, I'm not too keen about him. I keep reading comments that Ziyech is the right profile because he has European pedigree, but guys, at 27 he was playing in the pitiful Eredivise, and has completely failed at Chelsea. Tuchel doesn't even consider him anymore.

I'd rather get Berardi, younger and proven in Italy. And also a starter in the Azzurri.

I think Hakan renewing is a good thing. I don't think De Paul would be a huge step in quality from Hakan, In fact if I am not mistakes Hakan has better numbers than De Paul. Plus he comes with certain assurances.

Losing another player for free would have been a big hit financially for us. Plus he's accepting what we've been offering him for months now. So we stay within what we deem is suitable

I'd rather the 40m (if we have it that is) is spent on a RW. Let's not forget we also have a huge problem in the midfield with both Kessie and Bennacer going to the AFCON in January. We have to find someone capable of holding the forth so to speak.


So Hakan staying is one less headache to worry about imo

As for Ziyech, I really like him. I think he'd be perfect for that RW position for us. If the numbers are favourable I'd take him in a heart beat

Also, looks like we're close to renewing Brahim's loan for another season. An option to buy will most likely be included.

Great news

De Paul is miles better than Hakan, in my opinion.

Isn't Ziyech more of a AM than a winger?

I think both have their strengths and weaknesses. I wouldn't say De Paul is miles better. Would I prefer him over Hakan? Yes. But I still think it would be smarter to not lose Hakan on a free and spend 40m on an AM when we need to fill other positions. Hakan is a logical solution that imo is still a good one. Yes last season he dropped off a bit, especially after returning from Covid, plus all the contract talk cannot be easy to block out. I think if he renews, he returns a rejuvenated player

Ziyech can play both positions. But he'd be the perfect RW for us. He's left footed, great at cutting inside, excellent vision (hence capable of playing in the centre as well). If we can get him, we should go all in for him. That's why I think renewing Hakan would be hugely important. That frees up any transfer budget we would have had to allocate for the AM

Plus, we have no guarantees that we'd have gotten De Paul. A. Madrid want him as well and they are in a much better position than us to spend

Let's see what happens.

By the way, looks like we managed to lower Tonali's fee: 15M in total including bonuses (it was 25M initially) and some primavera kid. With the 10M loan from last summer it adds to a total of 25M. Good deal.

Calhanoglu on some Turkish channel: "A move to Galatasaray? I'm open to everything. If a good offer comes then why not"

What a mofo! If that's not disrespect towards your current club, then I don't know what it is. You can't renew the contract of somebody who comes out with such idiotic statements.

Please let him go. We're AC Milan, not some random mid-table club.

I agree with Han on every aspect here. You vastly overrate De Paul.

Perhaps I do, but maybe because I think Hakan is very, very mediocre.

It's some 3rd rate Turkish outlet. Obviously they want to make things look favourable for the Turkish club

Let's not lose any hair over this

We'll see what happens. But if Hakan doesn't renew, that's an added problem over the already existing ones we have. Plus losing money on another free agent situation. We already lost 60/70m on a potential Donna sale. I'd rather not add to that tbh. We can always sell the following summer and upgrade then. Hopefully we'll have a CL season under our belts with another on the way so we'll be in a heathier situation to replace him

It's partly about losing money. But what worries me even more is that we're heading in the wrong direction: by losing Donna and Hakan we surely become weaker and not stronger.

Depends who you're replacing them with. Maignan might not be better than Dollarumma but he's still a very reputable GK. Also, the GK position is not like the others. If you have a top class CF and then switch to a really good CF, the difference is too obvious. But if you switch from a top class GK (if Dollarumma is even that) to a very good GK then it's more or less the same.

For the AM position, if we sign De Paul or Zeiych, it's obviously an upgrade.

So, say, Maignan and De Paul/Zeiych for Dollarumma and Calhanoglu for me is an obvious upgrade.

De Paul and Maignan for Hakan and Donna is a downgrade on almost every aspect if you ask me. Ziyech is another question mark, and he does not occupy the #10 spot (or at least that's how I remember him from Ajax?).

But well, let's wait and see.

Gkeeper situation aside, think the summer transfer window hasn't really started for Milan.

Maybe there are targets who are participating in the Euros (maybe not). But I am not restless about this, have this feeling Maldini has a couple names not yet revealed.

That said, I appreciate the stance the club is taking with the players leaving on free. It is a new management and they are setting a precedence for future transactions, Raola has been warned I believe

You honestly think Maignan instead of Dollarumma is that much of a downgrade? I mean, the Italian is great and all, but let us not forget that he is also been prone to howlers and mistakes very often over the years that have cost us dearly. Think of Milan-Udinese or Milan-ManUtd this season, for instance.

And well, De Paul is clearly superior to Calhanoglu. Maybe by a little, maybe by a lot, but overall he is the better player.