He had 1 or 2 games where he did slightly better in the double pivot than he did under Allegri. But that's not saying much considering how terrible he was in Allegri's 3-man midfield

This says Balo may be heading towards Arsenal. As part of the deal we may be getting Campbell (Costa Rican national, spent last season on loan to Olympiacos). Also, we are still after Mandzukic / Falcao, and we will be trying to sell (or get rid of) at least 5 out of the following: Kakà, Honda, Saponara, Robinho, Niang, El Shaarawy, Balotelli, Pazzini, Matri and Petagna.

This says we are still after Iturbe, but we are competing with Roma and Juve. Verona is asking for 25M.

This says we are after Ochoa again, though apparently half of Europe is after him as well.

Campbell was outstanding V Uruguay.

We should go after Ochoa. He's still young for a keeper, a free-agent and especially if his display against Brazil is a true reflection of his abilities. C'mon Galliani, this is mercato heaven for you.

Arsenal want Balotelli, Galliani won't let him go for less than 30 million pounds which are considered too much from Wenger. Galliani is hoping in a good WC from Balo, and a possible auction war between Arsenal and Monaco to elevate his price.

As FM! mentioned, we might get Campbell from Arsenal, and apparently we've reached an agreement with Verona for Iturbe on the basis of €25 million. We just need the money to finance it (by selling Balotelli).

Mandzukic is unlikely to happen, and Paloschi will be sold entirely to Chievo. For CF the alternatives remain Matri and Pazzini.

Link

Matri and Pazzini? No f*cking way!

No to Campbell + cash for Balo, either give us cold hard cash or go sniffing elsewhere Arsene

As for this list: Kakà, Honda, Saponara, Robinho, Niang, El Shaarawy, Balotelli, Pazzini, Matri and Petagna.

Matri, Robinho, Niang and Kaka will definitely be sold/released. I'd love to have Ricky stay because he's still a good addition to the side, but his wages simply don't reflect his output on the pitch. If we can renegotiate his contract okay, but if not I think it would be best to part ways

So that leaves: Honda, Saponara, El Shaarawy, Balotelli, Pazzini, Petagna.

I think we could easily see Sapo and Petagna loaned out. Honda will definitely stay, if nothing else he's a great marketing asset and wasn't really given enough chance to decide on his future imo.

Same goes for SES, I think he'll be a key figure for us next season plus his price in the market has gone down given he's spent an entire season out injured so it would be absolute madness to sell him now

Balo is obviously the major talking point here. I honestly don't know what will happen, I don't get the feeling that he wants to leave, I think he's still happy a Milan. I do get the feeling that Raiola is obviously sniffing for a bigger wage for Balo though. In all honesty I think this all depends on what Silvio wants to do. If he thinks he's worth keeping Balo will stay, if not we'll sell him.

I tend to agree. I have been rather frustrated at Balo's inconsistency, but I have bought into the argument that there still is potential. Also, I am not thrilled by those we are linked to as an alternative. I think Raiola is pushing real hard for a sale (that is how he makes money), and it looks like Milan is willing to sell, if the price is right. Now, if that means we are left with Pazzo and Matri, then it is bad news. I see Pazzo as a good sub, nothing more. I have no faith in Matri, seen him fluff too many chances, even in his Juve days. To make matters worse, his salary is such that nobody will buy him unless we offer him at a discount, and I do nott believe Galliani will do that.

Agreed with every word.

Can Iturbe play on both wings? Would he start right now over El Shaarawy or Menez?

Our problem is an attacking forward down the right. Both SeS and Menez prefer the left flank. Honda doesn't work on the wings.

This is where Iturbe would work for us.

If we sell Balo and get no one to replace him, I'd sooner just let SES play up top then have Matri start

I think Iturbe can play on both wings, same for Menez

Agreed, but as I said below, if Balo is going to be sold, we'll have quality options on the wing but zero quality in the striker department, which is why I'd shift SES in a striker/ false 9 position, basically let him do as he pleases, he's a great goal scorer, every one seems to discount this, but I think he's a better finisher than he is a winger.

I think the media is saying that we'll fund any sort of move for Iturbe with money we'll save from letting go of Kaka and Robinho + Mexes (he's either going or getting a reduced deal)

If we sell Balo I'd rather like to see that going into a top notch CM tbh

I choose to believe him!

Blind hope.... who knows? (as you guys rightfully said - Never trust a footballer's words)

But overall I'm trying not to take on too much transfer 'rumors' until the World Cup is over.



*sigh* whatever... Hopefully his salary was reduced at least!



I've read that although we still have interest in him, he's a non-Euro signing for us, and that's one of the main issues for the moment as we might have our sight on other non-Euros as well. I guess we will have to weigh out our options so to speak.

I'm definitely all for his arrival as well though!



Pazzani can stay, but if Balo leaves, definitely not as our starting CF! (he isn't that caliber of striker we need)

Matri? GET OUT!!! Get the Fack OUT!

60,000 a week. Euros.

Around 2.4 mil per year?

How much was he at before?

So it's basically the same as it was before...

This calls for an even bigger face palm than the one I posted above, but I'm not in the mood to look for a gif.

I think Alex took up one spot and we have one left over. I'd be happy if Ohcoa filled it. we're desperate for a good keeper at this point, we can't go into another season with Abbiati, and now we've also lost Amelia who imo was a good back up.

Imo, there are 3 key areas that must be filled over anything else. GK, CM, RW

Focusing on other areas right now would be time wasted.

I see...

Since we're going to play 4-3-3, I think we should have a total of 6 MF max (excluding Montolivo).

De Jong
Poli
Honda
Cristante
Muntari
???

I agree that we should loan Saponara, whereas Nocerino and Essien have to be sold at all cost.

For the attacking positions, we need 2 CF, and 3-4 wingers. I was hoping we'd get Paloschi back, but that's gone now. So, it has to be Matri or Pazzini as back-up, and Balo or somebody else as primary CF. For the wingers, we have El Shaarawy and Menez. If we get Iturbe too, it'd be awesome. Kaká and Robinho obviously have to be sold.

Kaka to Orlando FC - seems a done deal.

Funny, cos I read yesterday that Sao Paolo's president said Kaká will most certainly sign for them.

He was on 3 million previously plus bonuses. Now he will get 2.8 million including bonuses. And that's the price for a 2 year extension. I don't mind it at all. I still insist he is a good utility player, and for a team fighting in just Serie A, it will be tough to attract better players in that second tier role.

Regarding Kaka,

What I understand is he has been signed by Orlando as their designated player, and will be loaned to Sao Paulo until the MLS season starts, so till 2015.

According to ESPN reporter 'Taylor Twellman' - This is how it's gonna play off:

Yep, looks legit. Bye Ricky. It was good seeing you with this jersey one more time.

How could that not bother you???!!

So he basically got a 0.2m reduction, how is that good? He's still earning 2.8m per year for jogging around, taking pot shots and making bad passes!

Look at any other club in Serie A and tell me they're giving their utility players 2.8m per season! This is why we can never get rid of the disgustingly huge wage bill we currently have. Muntari should barely earn 0.5m per season taking into consideration his quality (or lack thereof) and contribution on the pitch. Yet we give him an extension for another 2 years with nearly 3m per year. And I thought we were capping the wages at 2.5m!

We'll have to agree to disagree han.

Unless a player is a pure tackler like Rino or he is a technical tour de force, for you he is mediocre and should earn nothing significant.

We've let go of Nocerino, probably Essien is going as well. And we'll have De Jong(hopefully), Urby and Cristante.

I think Muntari is a good player. A solid 7 type player who you will need over the course of a season. The world isn't black and white and you can't populate a team with proven world stars and exciting young prospects only.

----

Further updates:

- Bakaye Traore has been sold to Bursaspor on a 3 year contract
- We offered a one-year extension to Mexes at 2.5 million (not including bonuses). He is not in coach Inzaghi's plans and is not happy with the severance package offered.
- We have sold Paloschi to Chievo. They've acquired our half for 3.5 million. The same they paid for his one-half the first time.
- We have acquired all of Saponara for 1 million.
- We have sold Valoti to Albinoleffe for 400k Euros.
- Interest rekindled in Ochoa, but his non-EU status presents problems so we might hold off till the last moment.
- No official bid from Arsenal for Balotelli. They seem to go for Lavezzi instead.

Source: Twitter mainly.


So far some very fast and decisive moves in the market. No big splashes yet. No clear picture on how our team next year will line up.

I like Monto and De Jong just fine and they're neither technical tour de forces nor tough tacklers ala Rino.

Muntari is just a terribly mediocre player. And to say he's a 7 is just overrating him beyond belief!

I do think he can be a decent backup in case of injuries and to come on late as a sub, but I've always had issue with him starting games, simply because he's terrible and ruins the flow of our game.

My big issue is that we're paying him nearly 3m a season, that means Muntari is costing this club nearly 6m a season after taxes. Give me one other club who's paying their utility players that kind of money FFS! All while continuously complaining about money. If Galliani was shitting 500 euro bills and money wasn't an issue I wouldn't be so pissed off about this, but we've sold our best and most influential players for their wages yet giving Muntari this kind of money is apparently not an issue.


- Best bit of news I've heard about Milan in years
- Mexes wasn't in Allegri's plans, wasn't in Seedorf's plan and now apparently not in Pippo's either, yet by the end of the season he always managed to become the first name on that team sheet. Mexes is a good defender, better than Alex imo. If we can keep him on that wage it would be good business for us.
- We've wasted non EU spots on Cardacio and Viudez and Vergara just last season but when there's a huge opportunity to bring in a pretty good keeper when our other options are an over the hill Abbiati and Agazzi, we're suddenly hesitating about wasting a non-EU spot...
- Good, unless it involves Monaco or PSG, I don't want to see anymore rumours about Balo. Unless the club is willing to give us big cash I simply don't want to see him sold.

Btw, these are the wages we were paying this season just past according to Gazzetta. So if that 2.8m is truly correct it makes things even worse

Say what?

Pleased Kaka's gone if I'm honest. He was great till December but a total passenger since then. We need players fighting for the cause and he just wasn't.

+1

I'm sort of sad about it, but also in acceptance of it. He was earning too much money for what he was returning on the pitch.

Maybe this will sweeten things over with Sao Paolo should we move in for Ganso

Fair point. I would absolutely take Ganso.

I won't claim to have watched him in recent seasons, he's pretty much fallen completely off the map, but I think it was you or someone else that told me a few weeks ago that he's been doing well. And we need more quality in midfield rather than attack atm

Forget quality, we need quantity. Have you taken a look at your post count? 30,080, holy moly! Congrats, Han, but boy, do we need some members to keep the heat on you, ha!

+1



Where's this from Han?


Have to agree. I think my reasons for wanting him to stay were based more on sentiment, rather than progression.



Based on what this writer compiled (in just May), if it's accurate... I won't hold my breathe for a Ganso transfer.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2055633...-henrique-ganso

A guy who can't cut it in Brazil has no chance of cutting it in Europe.

I bought him on FM14 and 75% of his rights were owned by a 3rd party. So if that is the case in real life, it'd be a huge gamble to sign him as I'm sure his 3rd party owner would still demand quite a bit of money.

It's the annual wage thing Gazzetta do

here's a link with all the club wages Clicky

Well if he's fallen as far off the map as that link posted by Trini suggests, I wouldn't think they'd have much leverage

Cool, thanks man!

Its good he left, his time is long overdue. Adjust SES and Honda to take up that department.

We got Albertazzi back via blind auction with Verona.

All the ownership resolutions: http://www.milannews.it/primo-piano/milan-...roprieta-147848

Funny that we bought Saponara outright yet word is Inzaghi doesn't have him in his plans at all for next season.

I didn't expect we'd get him for such a cheap price though. If he recovers well from his injury, this could turn out great for us...specially now that Kaka is out.

Actually 3M before taxes (gross and not net)

Does that make this situation any better?

He's still earning bucket loads of money for being mediocre

Isn't it the same thing? Muntari earns €3 million, we pay €6 million in total.

It does, you said ur biggest issue is he earns 3M after taxes. But in reality he earns 3M before taxes, hence after tax deductions he earns less. Meaning it is no longer ur biggest issue anymore