Well, it is not that easy. I believe we got really lucky with Kjaer, as people viewed him as an "Atalanta flop". In general, players with experience come with a high transfer fee and/or a high salary (if not, they are typically not worth considering). Personally, I would prefer to avoid a repeat of our experience with "proven champions" like Bonucci or Piguain or ... Torres. If we truly can find another gem like Kjaer, great. If not, I would rather build for the future, even if it means taking a chance on players that have yet to reach their full potential.

I get your point. However, perhaps it is worth remembering that we have reached "top" of Serie A with this team, despite many injuries and mis-haps. :-)

In any case, Donna is world-class. Kessie, Benna, and Theo are getting there. Hakan, Rebic, and (to a lesser extent) Roma, Saelemaekers, Calabria, and Gabbia have all proven their worth. Others have yet to mature (Leao, Tonali, Hague). Again, what our much-despised management has been doing is working much better than what we have seen for the past decade. Have faith :-).

Looks like we're very close to signing Simakan for 15M + bonuses.

Source

Don't see the point in this signing to be quite honest, but okay.

Unconfirmed rumors that we closed the deal, despite a "late challenge" from Strasbourg (also after him). Apparently, he is a very versatile player who has played both sides of CB and DM as well as RB. If so, he is a good addition, IMHO. We can argue the need for an additional CB and RB (I believe we need that), but we most definitely need someone that can rotate as CM.

However, I will wait to get excited until it is confirmed.

EDIT: I see conflicting reports. PianetaMilan also claims it is a done deal.

Market news: Milan pressing on Zaccagni, on loan for 6 months.

This is an AM, so he would probably challenge Diaz for a spot. I have seen mixed reviews.

He was really good against us.

I know he can play as CB or RB, but not in midfield.

Nowadays "versatile" players usually turn out to be mediocre players at best.

Pretty sure we?re signing him for his CB qualities and that?s it.

Here is Simikan in 1-on-1 situations against Mbappe (link)

Obviously can't judge a player from a 2 min clip but I like what I see.

Which is why I never watch such clips.

From NonEvoluto forum:

"Problemi di liquidita' per l'Inter, ancora non pagati 4 mesi di stipendi arretrati. Marotta e Antonello chiederanno tempo alla Lega. Zhang disposto a cedere la societa' per 960 milioni, ma ce ne sono altri 600 da aggiungere per il debito"

"Financial problems for Inter, still not paid 4 months of back salaries. Marotta and Antonello will ask the League for more time. [NOTE: if you are behind by more than 3 months you are considered in violation.] Zhang ready to sell for 900M, but there also is 600M in debt."

For anyone unhappy with Elliott and the financial constraints that have been imposed on us, this is a reminder that financial stability is the basis for growth. Zhang gave Inter the illusion of stability, but the last couple of years have put them in a bad place.

Agreed.

But our management has to speed up things. Negotiations for completely unknown players are taking way too long and we're losing out.

+1

Wrong thread

I can sympathize with the frustration (I will be very unhappy if we do not add a few players soon), but I am less concerned about it than most of you seem to be :-).

As I understand the way we operate, we assign a max value to a player and do not go past that in negotiations. On the negative side, this means we will miss opportunities. On the positive side, we will not get caught up in bidding wars, and we are less likely to overpay for players (like we did with F&M and later with Leo).

As for "completely unknown players", I guess Kone' fits the description. Simikan is a little better known. That said, I believe we will continue to focus on relatively low cost players with future potential and allow them to adapt slowly to our system. This will include "unknown players" ... like Kjaer and Saelemaekers. This means we are unlikely to find "instant solutions", but (if all goes well) we will keep building strength over time, and will become an attractive destination for young talent. In other words, we are playing the long game.

Should add that "instant solutions" often are not that. Look at Inter with Eriksen and the players that Conte insisted on getting (like Vidal and Kolarov). Or Milan with Bonucci and Higuain. Of course, you also have players that make a big difference (like Lukaku for Inter, Ibra for Milan). However, players like that come with very high salary and (in most cases) huge transfer fees. As we have seen, if things do not work out these deals can prove very costly (expensive player sitting on the bench and no way to unload him to some other team).

Like it or not, we cannot lose track of financial reality. Look at Inter. After celebrating the "unlimited financial strength" of Suning for the last few years, they are doing all that well. CM confirms what was posted on the NonEvoluto forum yesterday (Inter financial trouble) and they are also being sued for not having paid Eriksen's agent yet (source). Taking a wider view, lots of clubs are in deep trouble due to COVID (several weeks ago there were talks of Ligue 1 shutting down). And yes, there also are clubs that appear to be in good shape (Juve, RM, Bayern, all of EPL, etc.). However, these are clubs with real deep pockets (RM, Juve) or clubs that are built on a solid financial model (Bayern).

Bottom line, the current situation can be frustrating to all Milan fans (me included), but I prefer this to what we experienced for the last couple of decades.

Looks like Torino's Meit? will be our signing in midfield.

AFAIK, he's not part of Giampaolo's plans, not even called up for tonight's game. No idea how good he is, though.

Sure. But at a certain point, you're leading the Serie A, and you need reinforcements to keep pushing that way...which at worst will get you a CL qualification. We need to try and sign a player or two who are dependable (De Jong/Van Bommel style). There's no point of getting a youngster at this point in the season. For me there is no logic behind it at all. In the January transfer season, you need to go for experienced players who will help you. Ibrahimovic and Kjaer last season were the perfect example of that.

No idea who he is?

If he's not part of Giampoalo's plans, then maybe he's actually good.

Why don't we snatch Belotti as well!

Soualiho Meite, 26-y-o CM they signed from Monaco two years ago for 12M. He's been a regular for them ever since.

My toughs exactly. If Giampaolo thinks he's no good, maybe he's good.

He seems interesting. Why not?

I know he has been associated to Nkoulou (for example). Of course if you are not fluent in Italian you may not get the point of the rather juvenile play on words :-)

Beyond that, I believe he can play in the double pivot and does not fit in Giampaolo's system. I see this as a somewhat underwhelming move, but I have come to trust Maldini & Co (and I could not care less of Giampaolo's opinion).

EDIT: Opinions on the NonEvoluto forum are mixed. Supporters of the move point out that "he may be on the bench now but he was a starter last couple of years", "he is suffering from lack of faith but he is not that bad from a physical and technical perspective", "strong physically, not great technically but effective, kind of like Kessie though not as good".

Well, last year we added Kjaer and Saelemaekers. Fans were not impressed, yet they both made a difference (Kjaer right away, Saale took a little longer). I think the system we have in place works well for us. It is mostly about building for the future, but it can benefit us shorter term as well. Our roster may not look impressive, but we have been winning consistently for close to a year. Have faith :-)

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

I like what I see.

Is the move official?

Not really.

CM mentions it as a possibility.

Longo (normally a good source) claims the deal is close

Nothing on NonEvoluto (also a good source)

How good is this Meite anyway? Anyone knows more about him?

I read that he is physically strong, technically not great but effective. Similar to Kessie, though not as good. I am not impressed, but I have come to trust Maldini & co. And some of you should be happy because he brings some level of experience to the team :-)

Looks like Duarte may be on the way out (link). Good riddance.

EDIT: confirmed by Longo

Indeed. One of Leonardo's poor signings.

So no one thinks we should be reinforcing the team for a Scudetto push?

We all think it.

When I'm talking about experience, I'm talking about some player who actually won something:) and not just a 26 yr old playing at Torino. (Even if seems like a smart signing)

Basically you would have us looking for someone that is likely to have a high transfer fee (if they are any good), high salary (if you want to attract them), and probably low ceiling, low resale value and (if they flop) an expensive player sitting on the bench. Sorry, I would rather get someone with future potential even if the impact is delayed.

I would really like to see addition to the team. However, I would prefer they be in line with our current strategy and I would really rather we avoid "panic buys".

Have to say I'd like both. Why can't we have both quality potential and an impact player or too as well?

Oh wait. Tonali and Ibra. Bennacer and Kjaer.

We already do.

Let's go with the best of all worlds we can get rather than going with some silly ideas about what we can and can't have.

FM I think you're being clouded with memories from the Galliani era. A veteran or experienced player doesn't have to come with hefty salary demands and questionable role.

IMO it a question of balance and right decisions. I'm not suggesting we impulsively sign freebies and veterans. But look at how Ibra impacted our team. That certain extra quality, even if it comes with serious preconditions like a bigger salary and a fear that he can get injured a lot - that extra quality is something we need to win the scudetto. I really think, considering how our opposition stands and how we are doing, that winning the title isn't impossible.

Didn't you just repeat my post

I incidentally skipped it

Agreed.

Duarte off to Turkey is official. Loan with option. Too bad it's not obligation, he'll most likely be back by the end of the season

Meite looks interesting, a poor man's Kessie, but he'd be a much improved option over Krunic in that position imo

The management simply have to roll the dice now that we've come this far in the season and still sit top. You simply cannot let this chance pass you by.

A CB and a DM are a must.

RW and ST should be dealt with in the summer imo. Thauvin could come for free. That and I'd throw the entire budget at Torino for Belotti if necessary. He'd be the perfect player to replace Ibra when he retires


Plus Conti seems to be on his way to Fiorentina. I have to believe that they're clearing out to make space for new players

I disagree about Belotti. To replace Ibra, we need someone with a winning mentality, not a 27 year old Torino striker who stopped scoring. Don't get me wrong, I'd be happy to sign Belotti but throwing the entire budget for him is ludicrous.

Depay is by far better if we speak of players who deserve a second chance.

But Ibrahimović showed the club what is needed. Not half-baked players like Belotti, winners is what the club needs.

This is our financial situation. The numbers look horrific, but Elliott is (slowly) getting us to climb out of the hole we were in. Unlike some other Serie A clubs (like Inter) we are paying salaries and have no debt.


Perhaps. I believe the only way we can be successful is if we build on a solid financial foundation. Hence I am against anything I believe would put us at risk.


I am not completely against a move like Kjaer or Ibra ... if we run across something similar. That said, I am skeptical we will get there, and I really do not want to end up with some of the frauds we added to the team in past years.

Also, one of the good things that is happening to us is that our young players have the opportunity to play and learn. Yes, there have been mistakes, but ... we are top of the table. The more "experienced players" we bring in, the less space we leave for our youth players. And I do not see that as a good thing

Good for Duarte and Conti. We must get rid of the players that do not have space in our system.

I agree we need to bring on (at least) a couple of players. I see CB as less urgent than DM. I would almost rate getting a RW over a CB. All three would be great.

I read that Meite has history with Moncada (from the Monaco days). I am not overwhelmed, but he can probably become a good "vice Kessie".

I still rate Conti higher than Dalot.

Yes, I agree. However, Dalot appears to be above Conti in the current pecking order, and he must know that he needs some playing time if he wants to revive his career. From Milan's point of view, he is a good player but too injury-prone.

BTH, deal with Fiorentina seems to be closer.

Not often we disagree but 'stopped scoring'?

He has 9 in 16 with 5 assists this season, plus 16 in 36 last time round.

That's some of the best form he's ever been in?

Looks like Simakan is out for 2 months (knee surgery). What is concerning is the fact that this appears to be a recurring problem.

We are looking at other objectives. Most recently, we have been linked with Fikayo Tomori, but that would be a dry loan from Chelsea (where he has been sitting on the bench and not getting playing time), so I am not convinced.

Meite seems to be on hold (looking at other options, I believe)