It's embarrassing and offensive to the fans. To have such an emergency and on 17 January still with nothing...

According to Gazzetta, we're trying to sign last minute Ndombele and Alli from Spurs.

This is proof that journalist have no fucking idea what they're writing anymore, because any journalist worth two cents should know that with Lazetic's signing we have no more non-EU spots available, and Dele Ali, lo and behold, is non-EU. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

He is? How?

Brexit?

Oh, hell... yes...

January 31st, back in the day this is when a Mr. X would be unveiled (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Back in the day (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Today is that same day, and I am gutted that no defensive reinforcement had come in ... Is it because Milan don't have European commitments? Hence a Kalulu/Tomori - Romagnoli pairing suffices? Maybe it is because the club had lined up an alternative to Ronagnoli for the summer, and have budgeted for that accordingly?

The only move the club made was for a young striker, maybe the team does need that. But I feel an AM/RW is the type of player Milan need. Then again, the club's cashflow has not been regular with stadium closures ongoing and the future outlook for stadiums looks uncertain, as such could it be the club can not afford to onboard someone midway through the season? Sustainably, I doubt the club can afford.

forget buying players, we cannot even sell players I mean two consecutive windows and we couldn't sell samu.

Because nobody wants to spend money on a useless player like him. Another signing of Leonardo that proved to be a complete failure.

This signing window was a complete disappointment but we all saw it coming. What makes it annoying though is that we saw others make great deals and strengthen their squads while we just stood watching.

That being said, if not spending now means a bigger budget in the summer then I am OK with it.

I think it means just that.

Yet I am very pessimistic because the same patterns happen over and over again.

We're very slow in the market, taking time and time while everything should have been prepared earlier. Losing Donnarumma, Calhanoglou and now Kessie and Romagnoli for free is unprecedented. I can't remember a big team losing so many key players or starters in two consecutive rows for free.

Contract negotiations are being dragged for months. Pioli is a genius for creating a good team atmosphere, because frankly without him, this team would have been in shambles. Players are being tired with relentless contract negotiations and stingy budgetary projections. I see less and less players talk with positive zest or real optimism towards Milan and the future.

Ibrahimovic will probably be let go. I know many of you here don't think he's up to it anymore and that his constant injuries mean his body is giving up on him, but if we lose him we lose immensely much in team spirit. And there's always a few extras like against Roma that only he can pull out. Even at an advanced age, he's mentally and in terms of talent a WC player we simply cannot replace with just another quick or strong hotshot youngster.

The stadium question is being dragged as well and seems to be happening later rather then sooner.

All this makes me think we're heading in the wrong direction.

Pippo, Zlatan is more than a player for Milan. He is a reference point, a leader and a player/coach ? since his arrival Milan was able to claw back lost ground up the table to finish in CL territory. It seems very likely he will retire after this season, as his body cant take it anymore, but I hope he sticks around in a different capacity to instill the same spirit you were referring to.

With regards to letting players/first-teamers contracts expire, it is most likely to do with the clubs budget ? it is leas painful on the finances to let them leave than sign them on a big contract. It would be better if Milan sells them all for profit, but that is not the case. I.e. keeping Kessie on his existing contract till maturity is cheaper than renewing it at a higher fee, likewise for Cala and Donna.

Scaroni (the clubs president) stated that this is the model of the club now, whereby relieving Maldini and Massara of any blame on this regard. Now is this the way forward? How is the club going to convince Botman, Sanchez or whomever they plan on bringing, then that will be a question for the summer.

But it is essential to keep Zlatan, even in a different capacity, as his presence in the locker room and around the training ground is worth every cent of his contract.

That really depends on what the "direction" is. If you tell me it's to become title winners again with this current ownership, then definitely we're headed into the wrong direction. But if it's to build a sufficiently competitive team to stay in the top spots for n-consecutive years with controlled spending while looking for a buyer, then I think management is mostly doing a good job.

The Bosman losses are definitely a blow, but when you realise that Elliott has set a specific salary cap, then what can Maldini do? He's simply following company policy. Like I said in a previous post, one-off items of expenditure (like gains from player sales) become irrelevant when there's a business acquisition. Surely, a fresh injection of cash from said sales would benefit everyone, but liquidity is not a main concern right now as is containing expenses. You get what I mean?

Anyway, this is just conjecture from my part. It could very well be that we're being poorly managed and everything will go down the shitter sooner or later. The only thing I'm certain of is that Elliott doesn't care about this club, they only care about making a profit.

Rumors that we've set the objective of signing Botman and Renato Sanches in the summer to replace Romagnoli and Kessie. There are advanced talks with their respective agents but no negotiations have been initiated with Lille yet. The idea is to reach an agreement before June, kind of like with Maignan.

It kinda sucks that most of our budget will be spent to replace two departing players for which we'll be getting nothing in return. I'm mostly worried that once again we'll neglect our attack, which is in dire conditions.

Very true

But both Sanches and Botman are theoretically upgrades on the departing players

I still think we should just renew Romagoli's contract. 3.5m is a fair ask imo. Botman is a good player but Romagnoli has been a good servant to this club and given consistency, he will perform at a high level. Plus, as you said, that frees up the 30m we're supposedly putting away for Botman to be spent on the attack

Let's not forget we also have Adli already wrapped up for next season so he'll be coming in as well. Not to mention Pobega.

Ideally we send back Bakayoko and sell Krunic. Having a midfield of Bennacer, Tonali, Pobega, Sanches and Adli imo would be an improvement on our current roster, much more versatile as well.

For the attack, We just have to finally solve the RW issue imo. For the AM position I'm slightly on the fence and all indications I've seen ragrding Adli is that he plays that position as well as CM so AM might not be a priority for the management at that point. But RW and CF have to be addressed this summer for sure

Adli plays primarily AM at Bordeaux, but in his current system Pioli demands an AM that attacks the area very often (Brahim). Adli is more of a playmaker.

If we indeed do get Sanches, I'd be for switching to a 4-3-3 with Bennacer-Tonali-Sanches in the starting midfield, and the various Adli, Pobega, Brahim etc. on the bench. Brahim might be utilised when we need an extra offensive push in the second half. After all, he's usually devastating when he comes off the bench.

Why are you all so sold on Sanches?