I found a couple of resources for anyone who wants to go over them about him

https://soundcloud.com/world-football-index...ta-scout-report

http://www.squawka.com/en/news/who-is-luca...58ivpOWvsLyy.97

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kooNKyCR35c

For now I'll choose to trust that Leo wouldn't throw 35m at anyone, he must have followed him enough to think he's worth that kind of money

I think this is an encouraging sign, not only for this season but our near future, which is in very good hands.

The Ibra links also seem to be persisting, let's see what happens there. He'd be such an instant boost to the team. We'd still need one other right footed winger this January in order to be covered though, so let's see what Lo can do in that regard as well

35 m although is a lot but lets hope he is good and fits into the team well

Saw some images on YouTube. Not sure what to make of him yet. I'm usually reserved when it comes to players who overuse tricks and dribbles, especially from the Brazilian league.

We'll have to wait and see. Everyone speaks greatly about him, and I trust Leo. Also, position-wise, he seems like the perfect Bona replacement.

Well, he won't walk into the team that's for sure. Bona has been doing well this season compared to last. He'll need to work hard to take away that spot from Bona.

And I agree about the tricks and flicks, those will have to go away as soon as he starts playing in Italy and he'll learn that quickly

We'll see.

a lot about Barella being a Milan derby next transfer window

Please yes!

What do you guys think of Leandro Paredes? He's being linked with us recently for January.

I like him a lot, would be a perfect replacement for Biglia. Although I'm still hoping for Barella.

Anyway, it's a good thing we're finally paying attention to the midfield.

I never watched him play. Though, he does seem like an upgrade. What type of player is he?

I still think we would need a big name in midfield. But, him and Paqueta would be very very positive moves for our midfield. Also, I read that Bakayoko will be sent back to Chelsea as soon as possible. Good news too.

Problem is that Biglia right now is crucial to our defensive game, his positioning and ball winning ability are irreplaceable to us atm. His passing sometimes does leave a bit to be desired as we know he has the ability to dictate and keep the ball moving as this was his main role at Lazio. So far he hasn't really lived up to those performances, but he's showing a lot of improvement in recent games

Paredes is a good player no doubt, and he'd be a nice addition to have, but I can't see him taking Biglia's place, maybe if we played with a double pivot he'd be a great shoe-in for the first 11 but for now, I don't think he'd take that position from Biglia as he doesn't offer the same defensive solidity as Biglia does imo

As for Barella, the longer it goes on, the higher his price tag will be. And I don't see him as a traditional regista, he's much more versatile, imo, he's like a Verratti in that regard, aggressive, quick, very good with short quick passes, has a good shot etc. He'd be a dream signing, but there's a lot of competition with 50m being the quoted price...

In my mind, he'd take over the position from Bona or Kessie on either side of Biglia, not be a replacement for him

I'll stop you right there.

Irreplaceable? I think you overrate Biglia a lot. Sure, tactically he's a smart player, but he is far from being irreplaceable. In modern football you can't just be good at something and hope to be a crucial asset. It's why there are no one-dimensional players like Gattuso and Inzaghi anymore.

A holding midfielder has to be good not only at holding his position and keeping the midfield tight, but also to dictate play, to play smart balls, to makes assists and goals etc. Biglia contributes very little when we have the ball. He's very limited in that aspect, and that makes him very replaceable in my eyes.

As for Barella, he can play any position in midfield. Since we have (apparently) signed Paqueta and I expect Gattuso to play him as LCM, an eventual signing of Barella would make much more sense having him in the holding mid role. The fact we're also after Paredes makes me think that we want to find a Biglia replacement for next season.

Woah, I think you misunderstood me there. I'm not saying Biglia is irreplaceable because he's an elite player who cannot be replaced by an outside source. But right now in this squad he is and that is something that is common knowledge for every Milan fan. And if Paredes is our target Biglia would still be irreplaceable as I don't think Paredes is good enough to be the jump in quality we need.

Don't get me wrong, he's good, but he's not as positionally good as Biglia and with Kessie's undisciplined style you absolutely need someone who is capable of sitting and positioning himself to be a cover for the defence. I actually said that his passing game is not up to par, but his replacement has to be someone who's good in the defensive phase as well as a very good passer and I don't think Paredes ticks both those boxes


True, but you have to look at the kind of midfield we're building

Paqueta--Barella--Kessie looks good on paper but it certainly has weaknesses, especially defensive ones.

We'll have to see what Paqueta is like, but he strikes me as a more attack minded mid, so we'd have to see how all these elements could fit in there. For me Kessie has to be more disciplined in his positioning for us to have someone like Barella and Paqueta playing next to him.

https://www.football-italia.net/130235/ibra...nger-milan-deal

I like the idea of him retiring with us.

He would be a great assest just with his leadership and mentality, forget about everything else. He is not asking a lot for the salary too.

Scary!

I don't get why this wenger thing is suddenly being reported. Although everone is quoting the particular French paper

It's probably just BS.

Here's an interesting question. If you could choose only one between Fabregas, Paredes e Barella in January, who would you go for?

For me I would want Barella the guy is amazing but I think that we need a player like Paredes more

Barella, he's for now and the future

I love Cesc, I've been a huge fan since his Arsenal days, but if it's a choice of him or Barella than it's a no brainer at this point

I'm very indifferent about Paredes tbh, I thik he's a good player but not someone that will give us a huge boost imo

Current Milan president spoke of Galliani stating "“Galliani is a real Rossoneri fan and a great expert of football. If he speaks then I listen to him."

So I guess he is clueless yeah?

That's one man's opinion. Doesn't actually make it correct. Galliani was a genius of football... a decade ago, now he's just one huge bad decision

Didn't know Scaroni's opinion was absolute fact. Good to know.

Seems like we are very close to reaching an agreement with Chelsea for Fabregas in January.

32 years old in May, bench player at Chelsea for the past year and a half, but still this would be a very exciting signing. I've wanted Fabregas since his days at Arsenal, and I think he's still got it to be an important player for us. With him and Paqueta our midfield would improve immensely.

Where did you read that we were close x-off? I know we've been linked but nothing I've read has said that we're close.

Wuld be a huge signing if true though

Mediaset a few days ago, reporting rumors from the English tabloids. Chelsea want 12m though, so we have to negotiate that.

I’m sure we’ll sign him. As I’m sure Ibra will come as well. There are no reasons for it not to happen.

Not any ordinary man han, that's the #1 man at Milan, it's president.

Let's hope so. They'd be a huge boost, and not just in the footballing sense. And with many of the players returning from injury after the new year this could be what cements our position in the top 4 of the table

Let's get hyped up!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAKyG6U4CrE

In the end, neither Ibra nor Cesc will come. We'll stick with Mauri and Higuain as AM.

Ibra won't come, that's decided. Fabregas is very likely.

Yes? Just like Ibra was very likely? XD

Believe what you please.

Well you were the one who stated tha Ibra to Milan has no reason not to happen. So we should go easy...”

I didn't say he was 100% coming. Just like most likely doesn't mean for sure. But if you read what the press writes every day, and I do, then Fabregas is our most realistic target at the moment.

Perhaps, but does are just speculations. Ibra was also realistic at a certain time.

Milan are loaning Muriel?

I hope that means Milan go by a two forward system, having Higuaín play alongside Muriel or Cutrone (rotating, or one as sub for the other, whatever works best).

This 4-3-3 has got no chance to succeed. Having only Cutrone and Higuaín as real striker options, and only wingers that are better options for more of a midfield role, is simply a hopeless case. Having the most creative player as the right wing forward, who barely knows how to finish, and a high profile striker playing on an island. It looks so inspiration less.

I disagree. I think 4-3-3 is the best solution for this team, but for it to work we need a right-footed left winger with more scoring qualities than creative ones like Suso. Hakan not only has been disappointing, but he's not even a winger to begin with.

How many good fits do Milan currently got for the wide forward positions then? Milan needs to buy for sure two quality wide forwards for it to work. Otherwise, I think Milan is better off playing with two real forwards.

Despite Castellijo his good goal, and Suso his well dribbling and making things happen, they are not what you need as wide forwards. Having then Higuaín as only real goalscorer. It is no wonder Milan rarely scores a goal.

Like you say, Hakan is not even a winger to begin with. Milan plays with wingers (or wide forwards) who are much better fit as a midfielder. With this current squad, I would not opt for 4-3-3 as there's a lack of real quality wingers. Or yes, exactly what you say: a goalscoring winger, instead of a creative Suso. Put more and real creativity and playmaking in the midfield, and have got more goalscoring powers on the wings, and then I can agree 4-3-3 makes for a good formation. Seems you wish for the same, but right now with the current squad it does not make 4-3-3 a good formation in my opinion. I much rather see both Cutrone and Higuaín on the pitch than only Higuaín with another midfielder put as winger.

Suso plays best in the 4-3-3. It's his ideal formation. Unlike Hakan, he's not a midfielder. A 4-3-3 doesn't necessarily require two goal-scoring wingers. Rather, having a goal-scoring winger and a dribbler/assistman is more balanced and would work much better.

But if you wanna play Suso, a left winger, and two forwards, we're basically playing 4-2-4. Not only it's unbalanced, but where would Paqueta fit?

With the big hope of signing Fabregas, my wish would be to sign a LFW in January, and play like this:



Btw, apparently we had reached an agreement with Sevilla for Muriel on loan, but he chose Fiorentina over us. And I'm kinda glad. I don't think Muriel is the solution for us right now. We need someone good.

Paolo Maldini concurred it, unless Milan finishes in CL place, Milan won't be able to make signings. That includes Higuin and Bakayoko.

Further, Milan will have to sell before they buy.

Any movement in this winter shall be a loan.

We dodged a bullet with Muriel, but I doubt there are better players available on loan. I here Fenerbahce also want Fabregas and are negotiating with Chelsea.

We dodged a bullet with Muriel but we might get hit by a canon ball. Rumors about us being interested in Gabbiadini.

What is wrong with these people? Do we want another Borini? I would much prefer staying as we are than signing someone as rubbish as Gabbiadini, we has scored only one goal for Southampton and hasn't started a game since 5 December. In other words, after a Sunderland reject, now a Southampton reject. FFS Leo!!!

Well, Fabregas is off to Monaco apparently, so I guess we can consider this mercato (which hasn't even started yet) an utter failure.

Perhaps we were better off with Mirabelli...

Monaco are 19th currently in the league.. i beelive this is due to us trying to sign him for free only

I think he's going there for free since he rescinded with Chelsea.

Honestly, if he's going there only because he's friend Henry is manager, then maybe we're better off without him. I mean, who in their right frame of mind would choose Monaco over Milan? Good luck playing in Ligue 2 next year, chump.

Although, what I last read was that our agreement with Fabregas was that, if by the end of January he had not found a club and we had not found a midfielder, then we'd sign him. Which makes even less sense.

Anyway, latest names we're being linked with:

Stefano Sensi (CM, Sassuolo). The guy seems like a good player, plus he's young. But Sassuolo won't let him go for less than 25M

Carrasco (LFW, DL Yifang). We all know him. Really good and proven player, would be a welcome addition.

We don't need a young midfielder, we need an experienced creator.

And well... I told you so regarding Fabregas. It was all very foreseeable.

So no buying only loans. Any buying will depend on CL qualification at the end of the season or if Milan sells a player another may be brought in.

If Milan fails to qualify, players will be sold; not to be replaced by another, but to cover the losses.


Let's not forget post FFP Milan is not 'that attractive' club we all fell in love with. Those days are gone. Even a wealthy benefactor can not restore the issue Milan faces. The issue is simple, low revenue coupled with high costs render losses. What Milan needs more than anything is a stadium that enhances it's income and qualify for CL. That should enhance the value of the club and allow it more space to operate, because as of now the club is operating in the red.

That's a grim perspective, especially since I'm almost certain that we won't make it to the CL.