The disappointment of the current season will have a big impact on the upcoming summer transfer window. Several AC Milan players have underwhelmed this season and for a number of different reasons will see their adventure with the Rossonei end once the current campaign is over. At least nine player are sure to leave AC Milan this summer.
1 & 2 – TARUSANU and MIRANTE
Big changes will take place between the posts. Mike Maignan will continue to be AC Milan’s number one and his replacement for next season will be Atalanta’s goalkeeper Marco Sportiello. The contracts of both Ciprian Tatarusanu and Antonio Mirante will not be renewed and the two will leave as free agents.
Strangely, even the permanence of Devis Vasquez is not guaranteed. The 24-year-old Colombian goalkeeper joined the Italian champions in January slightly less than half of million euros but he may leave after just six months in order to free a non-EU slot for a new signing. In that case he would move on loan after not playing a single minute so far.
3- FODE BALLO-TOURE
Fode Ballo-Toure will bid farewell to the Red and Blacks at the end of the season. The former PSG and Monaco defender has failed to become a valid alternative to Theo Hernandez. Ballo-Toure was close to joining Galatasaray during the winter but everything collapsed due to his injury. A new left-back will join Stefano Pioli’s squad during the summer. Empoli’s Fabiano Parisi is the preferred target but he would cost over €10 million. Cremonese’s Emanuele Valeri is highly regarded as well.
4- SERGINO DEST
A summer arrival that has failed to live up to expectations is Sergino Dest. Despite Davide Calabria having a very underwhelming season, Dest has failed to provide the necessary competitions. The American right-back has made 14 appearances, most of them as a substitute. AC Milan have no intention to exercise the €20 million option so Dest will be shipped back to Barcelona unless the Spaniards halve their economic requests. This option is quite unlikely since Barcelona would make a big loss they can’t afford.
5- YACINE ADLI
The most unexplainable case among the new arrivals is that of Yacine Adli. The Rossoneri had high hopes for the 22-year-old French central midfielder who was paid €10 million to Bordeaux. During the summer friendlies he was one of AC Milan’s best players but when the season started Pioli never used him. Yacine Adli has made only five appearances for a shocking total of only 141 minutes on the pitch. Stefano Pioli clearly does not consider him.
Adli had offers from Italian and French clubs during the winter transfer window but surprisingly it was decided that he would stay. A strange decision since Pioli doesn’t use him and, in addition, the Italian coach considers Yacine Adli an attacking midfielder rather than a central midfielder. He’s sure to leave on loan when the mercato reopens.
6- TIMOUE BAKAYOKO
The Bakayoko saga is finally coming to an end. The French midfielder seemed close to leaving every transfer window but at the end he kept changing his mind and preferred to stay at San Siro. He has seen the pitch for a total of 39 minutes and his game time will hardly be increasing until the end of the season because otherwise Milan would be obligated to sign him permanently from Chelsea for an expensive fee of €20 million. At the end of the season he will return to the Blues.
7- JUNIOR MESSIAS
AC Milan will make a significant investment next summer to sign a new right winger. Junior Messias will leave to make room for the new winger. The Brazilian has one year left in his contract with the Rossoneri and Paolo Maldini will try to earn something from his departure at the end of the season.
Only five goals and two assists across all competitions are too little for AC Milan’s starting right winger. Better numbers are required in order to compete in Serie A and Champions League that’s why a new right winger is the top summer priority of the Italian club. Messias is also often injured. Alexis Saelemaekers will stay unless a tempting proposal arrives.
8- ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC
The second spell of Zlatan Ibrahimovic at AC Milan will come at an end this summer. Despite the Swedish centre forward claiming that he’s still able to make the difference, his physical condition states otherwise. Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s last presence with AC Milan dates back to May 2022. He returned to action in March and was injured again.
He could still play an important role until the end of the season but next summer AC Milan will bring in a new striker. For now, it seems like Noah Okafor is leading the race. His contract expires in one year so Red Bull Salzburg will be forced to sell him during the summer for a low transfer fee. Rasmus Hojlund is the big dream but Milan are keeping tabs on many strikers.
9- MARKO LAZETIC
After getting himself familiar to Italian football for one year, AC Milan decided to loan Marko Lazetic to Austrian side Altach for the rest of the season. The experience at Altach should serve Marko Lazetic to get a taste of first team football but it will not be his last. Lazetic is already projected to have another season on loan but this time probably in Italy.
His adventure in Austria has been quite underwhelming so far. Altach are fighting to avoid relegation this season with only 11 points until now. The Serbian centre forward has made only six appearances without being able to find the back of the net in a total of 195 minutes on the pitch.
ANTE REBIC
Ante Rebic is someone that AC Milan will try to sell next summer but he will most likely stay. The Croatian left winger is not dependable on performance level nor on physical condition. AC Milan would love to part ways with Rebic at the end of the season but finding a buyer will not be an easy task. His salary of 3.5 million per season is a difficult obstacle to overcome.
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