Why not? Did his desire for Juve sour him for you?

I guess it has.

The fact that we want to sign a winger makes me think Montella wants to stick to 4-3-3.

He will and he seems very determined to stay at Milan, he still has 2 years left on his deal and apparently all is agreed for his renewal. So I'm sure we'll keep him and tell Inter to F off in the process

I get you don't want to do Toro any favours but selling Niang is a must atm, so I'd rather pocket their 13m if he wants to go there than try to push him to Russia for the 20m and he rejects it so we end up stuck with him

Agreed about Gomez but apparently the offer is very good (13-14m is what's being reported)


His agent will meet with Mirabelli today so it very well could be, and I'm personally more than okay with that


I think the fact that we're going after someone with Keita's characteristics is more telling imo. He had his breakout season playing as SS. He can play both positions, and looking at out squad and how flexible it can be I think Keita would be a great fit.

The 4-3-3 is just on paper, we've played many different variations in pre-season, despite always starting with it

When I say 4-3-3 I mean a system that utilizes the wings. It can also e 4-2-3-1 or 4-2-4. If we play with a 3-man backline then the only viable solution would be 3-4-3, but that means a couple of important players would have to warm the bench.

Not sure if it's been mentioned, but Kalinic is having his medical today.

Edited to add crazy rumor of the day: Marchisio is on the market according to Gazzetta. Normally I'd call BS but given what happened with Bonucci, I'm not so sure. Not saying Milan would want or have need of him, but it's an odd rumor to crop up.

Agreed on that but Keita can play as a striker while Suso can play as an AM

The possibilities for what set up we use in attack are endless with those players, not to mention Hakan and Bona

I'd personally like to see us move away from a 4-3-3 and go to a 3 at the back, and it doesn't have to be 3-4-3, it can be a 3-4-2-1, 3-4-1-2 or a 3-5-2 depending on who's available and how Montella wants to set the team up

The 4-3-3 for us is just too dependent on wingers and with Suso being our only out and out winger, even if we sign another winger, it wouldn't make much sense to go for such a formation


I like Marchisio a lot but he seems to be struggling physically as of late. All those injuries have taken their toll on him.

Would still take him if the opportunity arises though

We already have three wingers in Suso, Bonaventura and Borini. The first two are clear starters, Borini can play on each side. If we sign another replacement winger like El Ghazi then we can comfortably play 4-2-3-1 without having to bench players that otherwise would get upset if they did get benched.

Say, we sign Keita and play 3-4-2-1. You realize that it only allows for three attacking players. Assume those three are Suso, Bonaventura and Silva. Then Calhanoglu, Keita, Kalinic, Cutrone and Borini all get benched. Last two aside, I can only assume that Hakan, Keita and Kalinic would get upset being second fiddle.

And I'm not a big fan of constant rotation between players...

Suso is close to renewing his contract according to Mediaset.

This Marchisio thing appears to be gaining momentum (link). Would say "no way this is going to happen", except last time I did I ended up eating my words ...

A player past his prime. Would be a decent sub but that's it. I read that Juve want Locatelli or Bonaventura in the deal. They can forget about Jack.

Not sure it'd be the best of buys if it did happen (though this fish surely wouldn't mind ogling Marchisio), but for the time being it surely is fun to watch the collective meltdown of Gobbi twitter.

They can take Locasmelli (I'm so immature) with my blessing.

The notion that we have to play all the good players has to be scrapped now. Great teams have great players sitting on the bench

I'd rather have a squad brimming with talent and giving Montella selection headaches rather than just 11 good players and then we're f@cked when one of them gets injured

it's not written in stone that Jack/Hakan/Kalinic/silva have to start. They all have to earn their place. The only sure starters for me right now are Bonucci, Donna, Rodriguez, Conti, Kessie and Suso. The rest can all be interchanged. Competition for places is a good thing, somehow I feel like we've forgotten this, the moment we sign 2 good players for the same position we have a melt down trying to figure out how we can fit them all in

I disagree. I think we must find a solid formation with the best possible 11 and stick to it. That's how great teams operate. Ancelotti's Milan changed during the years, but it always had the bulk of Nesta, Maldini, Pirlo, Gattuso, Seedorf, Kaka', Shevchenko and Inzaghi at its core because those were our best players and you couldn't bench any of them unless they were injured.

Rotating players on a constant basis is a very detrimental thing that doesn't bring stability to the team. I don't want to see Jack start one game only to bench him the next one in favour of Hakan.

With EL games on a Thursday you need rotation.

New offer for Niang (link). Not sure who is more crazy, Spartak for throwing this kind of money at a mediocre player, or Niang for holding out for Toro (who will pay him a lot less).

There may be nothing to the Marchisio story (link)

Well, personally I'd rather play in the Serie A for Torino than in the Russian league. So I can understand his reluctance.

That being said, that's a lot of money for both Milan and Niang.

There are two kind of rotations. One is to rest your important players before an important game. The other one that's being insinuated here is rotation between equally important players on a constant basis. That's a big no-no.

What's the point of having both Jack and Hakan if you can only play one? Even worse if you add Keita into the mix. It's important that we find the definite formation and line-up and we stick to that, otherwise we'll never achieve continuity if we keep rotating players in every game.

I agree with X that we should have a core 11. Resting fatigued players is okay. But constant rotation is a no no for me. It disrupts the momentum too much.

I don't get your argument X. By reflecting to the Ancelotti years you basically acknowledged what Han said, because even back then we had a core of 6-7 players and the rest rotated. Nesta, Maldini, Pirlo, Rino, Zee, Kaka and Sheva were the standard players. Pippo was in and out due to injury, so were players like Janku, Serginho, Cafu, Stam, Ambro, etc.

All in all, rotation is necessary. We have players who've become quite injury prone like Monto or now Bona. We also play on three different fronts for the first time in 3 years. So what we need now is depth and differentiated tactical options.

As for Marchisio, he might be past his prime, but in pre-season games he mostly looked very good. Sure, he's also injury prone but if he's really up to leaving, he'd still be a massive upgrade in midfield.

My point was that we always played the best team whenever possible. We didn't rotate, say, Tomasson and Inzaghi or Kakà and Rui Costa. Rather, we played Rui Costa and Tomasson when the other two needed rest or were injured. That's the kind of rotation that big teams apply.

Paletta is close to joining Lazio. [CM.com]

Well, I think that's changed these days. It's a far more energetic approach in the past few years than it was during the last decade. Heaving pressing, more energy etc etc.

Just take Madrid for example. Barring Kroos, Modric and Marcelo, they do tend to get quite fluid with their tactics and personnel. Isco starts, sometimes its Bale. Casemiro is now becoming a regular. Etc Etc.

But those times are gone for a multitude of reasons. The football of today is much more exhausting for one, with more runs and tempo.

Secondly, the thing is, this is our first season after 4 years that starts with some real ambitions and a project. Back in the Ancelotti days Milan was in a continuous loop: first the generation of Baresi, Tassoti and Ancelotti handed the reins to Maldini, Costacurta and Albertini while still in play. Then came in the Carletto team where you still had backbone players like Costacurta, Albertini or Maldini playing or sitting on the bench, thus providing the necessary continuity. It was much easier to insert one of two Pancaro's or Tomasson's.

With this Milan we're basically starting from scratch with a few talents and lucky hits from the past.

That doesn't mean that we should rotate players on a constant basis. We need to establish a solid starting eleven and build our game around that.

Jack mentioned Madrid as an example, but in actuality if every player is fit Zidane will always play with Navas, Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo, Casemiro, Kroos, Modric, Isco, Ronaldo and Benzema.

The only reason these players don't always start is when there are injuries or someone needs to rest. And this is what I'm saying. We need to apply the same logic, find our best line-up and stick to that. Rest players every now and then.

Kalinic is at Casa Milan to sign his new contract with us. He will take the #7 jersey.

With the emergence of Cutrone this signing is horrifying me a bit less than it was.

His scoring record is not the greatest. He's never scored +20 goals in the league only in his entire career.

Fassone said that with Kalinic our squad is complete. Supposing Paletta, Gomez, Sosa and Niang will be sold, here's what it looks like for now:

GKs
G. Donnarumma
A. Donnarumma
Storari

Defenders
Bonucci
Musacchio
Romagnoli
Zapata
Conti
Abate
Calabria
Rodriguez
Antonelli

Midfielders
Biglia
Montolivo
Locatelli
Kessie
Mauri
Calhanoglu
Bonaventura
Suso

Forwards
André Silva
Kalinic
Cutrone
Borini

That's 24 players. I think Calabria, Locatelli and Mauri need to be loaned out, and we need to bring in a vice-Kessie (Krychowiak?) and another winger. Then we'd be settled for good.

By the way, looks like Monaco are set to pay Belotti's 100M clause with the money they'll get from Mbappe...

Yeah, though I think this could very well be the right environment for him to hit +20 goals as he enters his peak!

What's also good is that he can help the team play, and is not as transparent as Bacca. I also think he really really wanted Milan which is always a plus!

He's not a big star signing, but honestly I think it's a very smart one. 25million(with 5 being paid now and 20 in the summer) is close to nothing with the prices going around today.

Of-course, I would have loved a big star signing, but at this point..it wouldn't make any sense!

Fff, ridiculous fees..oh well. Torino pissed me off too much with their antics and then they dare to go and ask for Niang..whatever.

Well, between a re-emerging Milan and a decimated Fiorentina it's no surprise he wanted to sign for us.

The squad looks good. I would keep Locatelli...honestly. But, yes I would definitely loan out Calabria and Mauri.

A Vice-Kessie and a winger are good ideas.

Do you have any idea on the total expenditure on transfers if we count in the money we got from sales? I know that we've spent around 200 million, but I guess we could finally get almost 50million from sales. I have to say around 150million for a new squad is just smart investment all around. PSG has paid more for one player

Yes, that is true. I can imagine he had other offers though, no? He obviously wanted to jump out of that sinking ship though.

You're all calling Fio a sinking ship. Didn't they need to be afloat in the first place? Been a long time since they were relevant.

I think you misunderstood my point.

Atm we don't have a set squad, we're thinking of Bona as untouchable atm but with the injuries and the fact that we have a better squad now his position will have to come into question

What I said was players needed to fight for their places, competition in the team is always good, the lack of competition is what made our players so complacent in the first place during these last few years.

I'm not saying we rotate the team constantly, I'm saying we get the best squad we can get assembled, even if there are 2/3 good options for some positions and see what would be the best IX then we stick to that and rotate as necessary (fatigue and/or injury). Having Keita and Bona fighting for 1 LW spot is something to be happy about and not something to worry about


The f@cker just doesn't want to f@ck off does he

Toro/Spartak whichever just go FFS! The 22m from Spartak is insane for Niang, he'd be an idiot to refuse that money, but I can understand the human perspective in this. If I were him I'd definitely think twice about going to Russia, but for that kind of cash I'd suck it up for a couple of years and then move on


First off, I don't view Hakan and Jack as occupying the same roles. I think Hakan is better in a more central area while Jack is much better starting from wide. The 2 can co-exist in the same line up (4-2-3-1 being the obvious). If Keita were to come he'd be competing with Jack for space. Also, we need someone like Keita because he'd bring speed/power to an attacking line that a bit too soft imo. sure we have passers and dribblers like Suso/Bona/Hakan/Silva/heck even Kalinic, but we lack that real change of pace and Keita would bring that to the table for us, making our front line very versatile and unpredictable


This

I'm not saying we rotate each weak, but competition for spots is good. So far we only have a handful of players who can be classified as sure starters, the rest will have to earn their spots. And having just a good 11 while the bench is a bit subpar would be a big downfall for us


Yes, and if any one of those players is injured/tired they have a top class replacement for him on the bench


Why would it horrify you to begin with? Kalinic might not be a huge name but he's a very capable striker and most importantly a team player which is something Montella specifically wanted


I think Fassone said that to shut the media up a bit. My guess is that we'll make signings for the positions we sell players from. i.e if Niang leaves we'll go for a winger, if Sosa leaves we'll go for a CM. 24 players is really not enough for a club that's involved in 3 competitions, a couple of injures (which we're already experiencing) and we're f@cked big time. Going into a season relying on Borini to be your 2nd choice LW after spending all the money would be bonkers

I just hopes Niang finally accepts that huge contract and just goes, someone seriously has to knock some sense into this guy


I think we'll sell 3/4 more players and bring in 2/3 new players

Which would leave us with a 27 man squad, a very good number if we want to compete on all fronts this season

Jose Sosa has accepted to join Trabzonspor. Agreement between the Turkish club and Milan is close [TMW].

Milan refused a loan + option to buy offer for Gustavo Gomez from Fenerbahce. [@DiMarzio]

Gustavo Gomez's agent: "Gomez will stay at Milan." (via @AntoVitiello)

Suso is not on the market and Milan never considered him for sale. He'll soon, along with his agent, discuss the renewal with the club [Sky]

Milan have an agreement with Lazio for the sale of Paletta. Now the player needs to agree terms with the Biancocelesti [Sky].

Milan have dismissed reports about their intention to submit an offer for Marchisio [Di Marzio]



Good news about Gomez and Paletta respectively. We should definitely keep Gomez as he's shown promise, plus it will save us the headache of having to look for another CB. Paletta finally going is also great, hopefully he agreed terms with Lazio quickly

Even greater news about Sosa (maybe we'll get 4-5m out of him)

This Niang thing is really dragging, someone needs to sit him down and tell him that he has no future at Milan and that he should accept the move.

I think once all 3 players are sold we'll go for 1 CM and 1 LW

Of course Borini will be our second-choice winger. That's what we brought him for. And it's totally fine.

I'd hope that wasn't what we brought him for but to be a utility player who can play all across the attack in case we're in big trouble in terms of injuries

Borini shouldn't be the second choice for any team that has high ambitions, he's very limited and doesn't provide much of anything. Niang is probably better if we want to get into technicalities here

Agreed.

So Fassone said we're complete? No more signings?

I don't think he was baing truthful though, they don't want to promise anymore signings because they depend on whether or not we manage to sell Paletta, Sosa and Niang

Once those 3 are gone I'm expecting a CM and a winger

Hmh, I'm not sure anymore. Fassone isn't Fester.

Oh and, why the hell have we given up on Ibra? Is it Raiola or?

If they're looking to sell 3 players while we're still short in attack I think they want to wait until they manage to sell those. They won't put pressure and announce a new signing will only come if Niang leaves for example as that would put the fans on his back even more. I think they're going to take things lightly until all 3 players mentioned are gone.

Because it really makes zero sense to go into a season still relying on a 4-3-3 with just one winger and two sort of wingers

According to most reports Mirabelli never really gave up on Keita, so we could see developments there if Niang leaves. They'd just say that the opportunity came up to sign him and they couldn't pass it by, just like with Bonucci who wasn't really planned

No, I think Ibra wants to stay on in Man Utd. He's even willing to reduce his wage.

I just watched the passiamo alle cose formale video. Fassone said that 'with Nikola, we complete the team, having signed 11 new players'. Could be read either way about there being new signings (it was clearly 'the team' not 'a team'). I have a suspicion there may be another signing or two, however.

edited because this fish cannot spell.

Oh Han, stop being so argumentative and obtuse, mate.

If we're going to play 3-5-2 then we're well covered. If we're going to play 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 then we absolutely need to sign another winger. I also think we're going to sign a vice-Kessie.

Niang declined another offer from Spartak, 23M precisely.

Link