I fail to understand why some of you guys are so pessimistic, we are signing players and if we end up with Ibra, Witsel and Romagnoli.. thats a top 2 squad for us with minimum 3rd

Some of you are talking like we will still struggle for Europa, look at our team compared to others we have very talented players.

I like Berlusconi's optimism about the Scudetto, even though that may be abit too far fetched.

Atm? It's barely a EL side imo

If we get those 3 players in, a sure top 3 side, maybe challenge Juve as well if they have a bit of trouble adjusting to all the changes in the squad.

Without Ibra, we're barely a top 3 contender imo.

Our squad still has some serious short comings. Namely no top level CB and no regista/creative CM

Yes, I agree...I don't see any indication of something changing in that midfield. Bertolacci...20 million UGH.

Though, we do have a much better front-line this year, still it's not enough.

Our front line for me is a question mark.

Let's all be honest. We barely knew anything about Bacca before we signed him aside from having a good EL season prior. Adriano has been a relatively good performer in Ukraine. Again it's not really a signing that excited anyone or lifts the hopes of the fans up.

We sold SES, and no matter how a handful of posters here felt about him, he was someone who was well loved by the fans and people had high hopes for

For me, if Ibra is not brought in, I would rate this mercato as below average, even if we do end up spending close to a 100m on players.

Indeed. As are all other areas, apart from the goalkeeper.


They are what I like to call "International Mediocres", good players on the world stage, but not someone that would excite other large clubs. On the flip side, at least we are not buying "Local Mediocres" by the dozens, as has been the case in the past couple of seasons. Players that cut it in the league, primarily at smaller clubs.

We signed some names, yes, and combined they may prove to be good enough for success. Gold, maybe, if we are lucky. But too many factors here, and there always is a chance that things might not work out as planned.


Not really, I thought far too little of him. And I do think that fans who had high hopes for him were merely banking on his potential, instead of his talents of skills, which they were not many of, to start with. Yes, as a youngster there always is a chance that he will start delivering, but for the few moons that he was here, he did not.

Save for that purple patch, those golden six months, that other teams took to work him out. Or his game, rather.


Quite agreed. All the hype, and not much in terms of signings. We needed a lot more magic, along with Ibra, of course, but even if he comes, I will probably leave things to next season, when we hopefully have CL. Right from when this market started, I felt that there were not that many players that were available.

Add to that some of our missteps, and lack of Europe, things surely have petered out now.

Ronaldo could be our signing this summer, unless he goes back to United. 'Could'.

Ha, stop trolling R7!

Why do you say that?


Anyways ... in other news ...
To get top players, we need CL football. United, Chelsea, City, PSG, Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern, and the list continues all have that privilege to offer. On the flip side we have cash incoming, give or take 2 weeks time, that allows us to provide the 'best prevailing terms' to potential players. So players at those clubs who can not get time, are bored, too much competition, could very well be a target for us.

Especially given the new alliance with the Far East (in TV rights, merchandizing, Sponsorships, etc). That should boost our Top-line within two years max with new synergies and sponsorships and the likes.

Reportedly rejected 7M for Niang from Newcastle.

Seems young M'Baye is seriously in Miha's plans.

And I think he will do very well. He's been impressive in the friendlies IMO, lacking that finishing touch which he actually had in Genoa. :/

Reportedly... Nothing in the Italian press about it...

Anyway, I think Niang could be loaned back to Genoa. If Ibra comes, and Menez also stays, I don't see how he could get any decent playing time.

Montolivo needs to be shipped out, our midfield should consist of DJ and three others. Montolivo and the likes either be sold or loaned out. Quality is a must in this department.

According to MilanNews, midfield is not a priority, Galliani will only make a move if a good opportunity comes up, if not Romagnoli and Ibra are the priority

It's interesting how our mercato just went from singing potentially okay to good players to a zero. I mean, I get the impression that it's either Romagnoli or Ibra or no one. No viable links or rumors for days, no new players mentioned as alternatives.

There's Witsel, too. Honestly, if we sign these three guys I'd be happier than a pig in the mud.

None of them is starting to look sadly likely.

Mercato has really sunken badly since our last signing. Mauri, right?

True


I'd be very happy too, but atm it's looking a lot more like fantasy rather than reality.

Galliani has said that if Romagnoli deal doesn't happen, we'll stay as we are... I don't know how truthful he's being here as he's been known to blow smoke up people's @sses, but atm, it's looking very thread bare in terms of options and ideas.

Spending 25m on Romagnoli for me is madness, as 1 decent season at Samp does not justify that kind of money, especially when Ely is showing that he has talent in him as well.

If we're going to spend big money on a CB, I'd rather it be a bigger well known and established player.

As for midfield, it seems like once again Galliani has forgotten about our biggest problematic area. The Witsel thing looks very unlikely atm and our midfield as is, is just mediocre.

We spent too much money on attackers and spent 20m on a midfielder that at best is worth 10m

Once again, Galliani simply isn't good enough for the job anymore.

We have a month left, hopefully I'm wrong about things but atm it does not look good

Pedulla reporting that after the sale of Albertazzi, Zaccardo, Verdi and Agazzi should be next to go.


Hopefully Matri and Nocerino will also be finally sold this month

They'll be gone for sure.

Nocerino also? Hmh, I'd keep him.

Never. Waste of air. Plus there's no space for him.

Why??

Utterly terrible, he needs to be off if we want to get the squad down to 25, plus make the signings that are still needed

I think he can do a solid job, given Ibra is there and he's a rotational option.

Don't think he'll even fit in as rotation! We have a good chunk of midfielders..I'd rather give the minutes to Mauri too.

He looks even worse now than he did the season after Ibra left. The time he got in these friendlies has been nothing short of terrible for him.

We need to get the squad down to 25, and imo Matri and Nocerino need to be on the out list.

So the Ibra links starting..if there's a time for him to come..it is now I guess.

It's official, Berlusconi sold the shares and Ibra won the French Cup yesterday.

We'll see what happens with Ibra, it's up in the air atm. But from what I gather it all depends on him and whether he wants to force his way out

I'm thinking he'll either renew for even more money there or come to Milan

It all imo depends on who PSG buy for the attack. They have been heavily linked to Di Maria and Lacazette

So the biggest transfer of the window that is 48 percent sale of Milan was signed off yesterday..

Yep.

Also, Sky are saying that the signs with regards to the Ibra deal are negative atm...


Not getting Ibra will be a huge blow as I can't see us making it into the CL with the team as is, even if you add Witsel and Romagnoli it's still a longshot as we have zero creativity in the side and no link between midfield and attack

Who was it who claimed Ibra would NOT be playing behind Bacca and Adriano?

Despite every media report saying otherwise? Please tell me it was not you. Can't have been given you say it above anyway. Can't remember who it was.

Han is just saying that we need Ibra for that spark of creativity upfront, cos even with Witsel we're still pretty threadbare. And really, has any media outlet claimed Ibra will be playing behind Bacca and Adriano? Did I get that right?

Then today you can proudly consider Milan back in amongst the biggest in the game

This is going to be a season to look forward to.

NB: Think inter has done better than Milan? Moratti sold 70% to Thohir for EUR300M ... Silvio sold 48% to China for EUR480M

Yeah, it's a crazy good price.

Inter have done good, but the transfer season isn't over.

Yup.

https://twitter.com/MilanEye/status/626051784642023425

He won't be playing behind them if he comes. Where hve you even read this??

And Ibra is a creative force in attack who ensures there's a link between the 4 mids in the diamond and his strike partner/himself. You're misconstruing what I said there, I never mentioned that he'd be the one who'd play in that position, but without him a proper creative attacking mid or at least a proper regista is required - desperately

Ibra won't be used as a trequartista. Miha has already confirmed that the ones playing at the head of the diamond will be Honda, Bona, Suso and Menez if the situation required that extra push

If Ibra comes he'll be the SS next to most likely Bacca.

Ibra doesn't have what it takes to play behind the strikers. That's a position that requires constant movement in addition to helping out the midfield. Anyone who's seen Ibra play knows he's not that kind of a player.

It would be preferable to have Ibra spearhead the attack, however playing behind the strikers is also a feat he can pull off.

Indeed it is. He's the most creative centre forward I've ever seen. He is more than capable of it. He's not unlike Rui Costa but with even more goals in him. Rui Costa wasn't exactly the most mobile treq we've ever had but he could still thread a pass.

I think he's capable of playing that position but only if it is tactically compensated for in having very mobile and defensively active players around him. Ibra has never been a hard working defensive player and that will likely only become worse as he ages.

Rui Costa was a natural trequartista. He was born for that role. Ibra is a forward that will be forced to play behind the strikers because we lack in creativity behind. I think it's a bad idea and I don't think it'll work.

He's one of the few actual strikers (Suarez, Messi and Ron excluded) who is capable of playing there.

Won't lie, don't remember Kaka, Sheva or Pippo getting back much.

It's not wholly accurate to say you need defensive-minded guys around him. Behind him, yes - but in front? Not so sure.

That team had a world class back 4 with no obvious weakness in sight and a midfield that was a well oiled machine with Rino doing the majority of the work to quickly win back the ball and give it to Pirlo/Seedorf. Plus we held possession like nobody's business as well so the work load was reduced significantly compared to these days where we spend as much time running around after the ball as we do with it.

Plus, you're making a comparison between players who are natural trequartistas (Rui/Kaka) and a striker who's never played the position (not that I can recall at least). It is different, even if Ibra has the creative genius in him to pull it off

I personally am 100% sure that if he comes, he'll be our main man in attack next to one of the other strikers. And I'm pretty sure he wouldn't accept the trequartista role either

English and Italian press seem to agree that Dzeko to Roma is a done deal, which the Italian press are saying is what Roma were waiting for before agreeing to our Romagnoli offer which is 25m + bonuses

Sky reporting Paletta will most likely be sold if Romagnoli is signed

Makes sense.

Spurs and Everton making moves for Honda.

Or rather, Honda wanting to leave because there's no space for him.

Also, Niang will be out for three months, so Matri might stay.

You told me off for implying he wasn't in favour under Miha



Niang is a big blow. He is the one genuinely bright spark of this pre-season. That's how bad it's actually been - that a fairly untested young lad like him is the only thing we're pinning hopes on, and that's now dashed!

Btw. guys, can you tell me what's so fascinating about Alex Witsel that you regard him that high? Isn't it odd since he's a 26-year-old player who's never actually played in a top league or a top team?