GdS: Two in, two out – Milan’s plan to overhaul the midfield and catch Inter | OneFootball

The AC Milan management know that the midfield has been the key during recent battles (and losses) against Inter, and they are planning moves to plug the gap.

La Gazzetta dello Sport confirm that Milan are considering signing both Youssouf Fofana and Lazar Samardzic to shake-up the midfield, knowing how important it is to have quality but above all balance in the engine room.

Giorgio Furlani and Geoffrey Moncada know that in order to sign the Frenchman and the Serbian in the same window, it is necessary to raise money by selling Ismael Bennacer (especially if an Arab club pay the €50m clause) plus Yacine Adli or Tommaso Pobega.

This is both for economic reasons and because the management’s desire is not to have an extra-large squad, but rather 23 players who are all ready to be called upon. Now that the attack has been shored up with the closing of the Alvaro Morata deal, the focus shifts to the other departments.

A year ago Samardzic was in fact an Inter player and had even undergone a medical with the Nerazzurri, but the deal fell through because the player’s father had reneged on the agreement for the contract reached with another intermediary asking for more money for commissions and salary.

The Serbian thus remained in Udine even after the January transfer window, when Napoli’s assault failed also due to the late hijack attempt from Juventus, which was not successful. Samardzic now expects to make the jump to a big club and Milan are a very welcome destination.

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Finding a basic agreement over terms was quite simple and now an agreement with Udinese is needed, but Pozzo has no intention to sell the 22-year-old for a bargain price and around €20m will be required.

Samardzic’s father and his agent are expected at Casa Milan this week to discuss the details of the contract, then they will turn to the Friulians. Milan believe that he can play as a mezzala and as a playmaker, allowing a switch from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1.

Fofana meanwhile is just waiting for a signal to leave for Italy and sign for Milan. He reached an agreement with the Rossoneri and through his agent he has explained to Monaco that he does not intend to renew his contract expiring in 2025.

This means that the Ligue 1 club must sell to avoid losing him on a free and that is why Milan are pushing to pay €15m including bonuses, but they started with a lower figure. It is far from the €20m requested but there is optimism, and he would provide much-needed physicality.