For AC Milan, the appointment of new coach Conceicao has provided the team with a chance for a fresh start. Looking at the league standings, with just over half the season gone, the Rossoneri are 8 points away from the top four, which is not an insurmountable gap. At the same time, according to Italian media reports, during this transfer window, RedBird Capital Partners will also adjust the team lineup, with several major transfers already in the works. Conceicao is expected to have a more competitive squad in the second half of the season to help him challenge his expected goals.
In midfield, Reinders' performance this season has been almost impeccable. On the defensive end, the Dutch midfielder's excellent running ability provides ample defensive coverage, becoming the most important barrier in front of the backline, with his average number of interceptions and clearances ranking among the best in the team. Compared to his steady defensive performance, what delights fans even more is that Reinders has undergone a "transformation" in attack this season. To date, he has scored 9 goals and provided 2 assists, making him one of the most attacking midfielders in Serie A. In addition, Reinders can contribute an average of 1.2 successful dribbles and 1.1 key passes per game, playing a crucial role in the team's offensive system.
Besides Reinders, the performances of Youssouf Fofana and Musa are also commendable, and they will all be important choices for Conceicao in the second half of the season. In contrast, Bennacer, who has recently returned from a long-term injury, appears to have a significant drop in form, unable to match his peak performance in both defensive interceptions and offensive play. With two and a half seasons left on his contract, AC Milan wants to get rid of this "burden" as soon as possible. At the same time, AC Milan is also looking for a suitable replacement for him.
According to "Calciomercato," AC Milan is working hard to secure the transfer of Samuele Ricci, and Conceicao has personally selected to sign this "new international" from Italy, seeing him as an important piece for the team's future lineup. Technically, Samuele Ricci is an all-round midfielder and is considered one of the outstanding players among the new generation of Italian midfielders. Considering the current premium in the transfer market, it is expected that Samuele Ricci's transfer fee will reach 35 million euros.
In the forward line, Leao and Pulisic have good efficiency; the former tops the Serie A dribbling chart, while the latter has contributed 8 goals and 5 assists. However, apart from these two, the performances of other attackers in the team are not satisfactory, with players like Okafor and Chukwueze seemingly lacking the ability and level to play for AC Milan. In this context, signing a higher-level attacker in the winter window has been put on the agenda by RedBird.
According to Spanish media "Relevo," Manchester United has made preparations to sell Rashford and has recommended the player to AC Milan. Considering AC Milan's operational strategy and Rashford's high salary, at present, the only possible form of this transfer is a loan. Moreover, a favorable point for AC Milan is that Manchester United has stated that they can cover part of Rashford's salary. Faced with this "top player" from Manchester United who offers himself, AC Milan's management tends to take him in.
In defense, Theo Hernandez's performance this season has been far from ideal. Especially in the past schedule, he not only failed to make any achievements in attack but was criticized for repeatedly making mistakes in defense. In the view of outsiders, Theo's mentality is the main reason for his current poor form. According to "Sky Sports," Bayern Munich recently contacted Theo and urgently hopes to bring him to the Allianz Arena. It is reported that this "€80 million man" has made the decision to transfer and is very close to leaving AC Milan. With the player determined to leave, as long as Bayern can offer a bid matching the player's value, it is expected that AC Milan will also be willing to push for the transfer to go through. (Images sourced from the Internet, please contact us if there is any infringement.)