With Gianluigi Donnarumma likely to be sold in the summer AC Milan are looking at three goalkeepers to replace him and a surprising forth option.
Since taking over full management powers from Paolo Maldini and Zvonimir Boban, Ivan Gazidis is the only one deciding which AC Milan players will be sold, which will be signed and whose contract will be renewed.
While AC Milan have no intention to let captain Alessio Romangoli leave, the situation is much more different and complicated for Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The contract of the 21-year-old Italian goalkeeper expires in one year and so far the parties have made little progress regarding an extension. If nothing happens until the end of the season the Rossoneri will sell Donnarumma to the highest bidder.
Three years ago former sporting director Massimiliano Mirabelli defeated Mino Raiola and convinced Gigio to sign a new contract in the stressful summer of 2017. However, the new management is having little success in this direction.
Nevertheless, AC Milan don’t want to get caught unprepared and are already planning for life after Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Rossoneri have a three-name list for Gigio’s successor with two Italian keepers and one Argentine.
JUAN MUSSO
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, AC Milan have been following Juan Musso for quite a while and the Argentine goalkeeper is considered an ideal profile to replace Donanrumma.
The Udinese goalkeeper is 25-years-old and is having a great season with the Friulians, so much so that he has attracted the attention of several clubs.
A derby battle is expected for Musso with Inter also interested in his services. However, unlike Inter, AC Milan can guarantee Musso a staring role.
Since last year, Juan Musso has become part of the Argentine national team. The 25-years-old Udinese goalkeeper was also part of the Argentine squad in Copa America 2019.
Musso has a contract with Udinese until 2023. Udinese signed him for €4 million two years ago from Racing Club while his price tag today is at around €20 million.
ALEX MERET
Since Gennaro Gattuso’s appointment as Napoli coach several AC Milan players have been linked with a possible move to Napoli and vice versa.
One name that continuously keeps getting mentioned in the talks between the two clubs is that of Italian goalkeeper Alex Meret.
Napoli spent €22 million to buy Meret from Udinese in 2019 but the player has failed to become a regular starter under Gennaro Gattuso. He has often been left on the bench this season and could look for a new team in the summer.
The former Udinese and Spal goalkeeper, who just a few days ago turned 23 and therefore respects Elliott’s transfer policy, is one of the most interesting young Italian goalkeepers and is already part of Mancini’s national team.
If Gianluigi Donnarumma refuses to renew, AC Milan will pay even more attention to the name of Alex Meret,
ALESSIO CRAGNO
The new name on AC Milan’s list is Alessio Cragno. The Italian goalkeeper has established himself as one of the most promising Italian players in his role.
After two very good years with Cagliari, this season started very late for Cragno. A shoulder injury kept him out for the majority of the season and Alessio Cragno returned between the posts only in January in a 1-1 raw against Inter.
The 25-year-old goalkeeper wants to test himself at a more prestigious club now and AC Milan are evaluating the situation.
Alessio Cragno has a contract with Cagliari until 2024. Inter are also interested in his services and Cagliari value Cragno at €20 million.
Cragno, Meret and Musso are the three names that AC Milan have considering to replace Gigio Donnarumma. However, there is also a fourth option that the Rossoneri are carefully evaluating.
PEPE REINA and ALESSANDRO PLIZZARI
Two years ago, unaware whether Donnarumma would stay or not, AC Milan decided to sign Pepe Reina on a free transfer from Napoli. At the time the Rossoneri had little hope in Gigio’s permanence thus decided to bring an experienced goalkeeper.
In his two years at Milan the Spanish shot-stopper has been Gigio’s back-up playing in cup matches. In January, with Milan out of Europa League, Pepe Reina wanted more game time and joined Aston Villa on loan for the remaining of the season.
Thus Pepe Reina became Aston Villa’s starting goalkeeper making 6 appearances until the Coronavirus outbreak. However, Aston Villa don’t have an option on Reina and at the end of the season he will return at Milan. Perhaps this time to replace Gigio for good?
Donanrumma’s breakthrough has come at the expense of Alessandro Plizzari. Unable to earn play time at Milan, Plizzari has been loaned to gain more experience. In the summer AC Milan renewed Alessandro Plizzari’s contract until 2023 in a clear sign that they believed in the 20-year-old Italian.
Plizzari is a regular starter with Livorno in Serie B but perhaps time has come for him to play in the first tier of the Italian league. Last year Plizzari excelled with the Italian national team in the U-20 World Cup.
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