According to Gianluca di Marzio, the tenure of Lucas Vazquez with Real Madrid may be coming to an end and AC Milan are interested. He has not yet agreed to a contract renewal, which would possibly allow Milan to sign him with no transfer fee.
With that being said, there are some difficulties. The report indicates that a renewal with Real Madrid is not completely out of the question, while Bayern Munich are also interested. That’s stiff competition, and Vazquez reportedly wants around €7 million per year. That’s a figure Milan would not be able to afford for a player likely coming off the bench.
AC Milan Target Lucas Vazquez on a Free Transfer
AC Milan’s Current Attack
Milan will have to upgrade two spots this summer if they qualify for the Champions League – a striker and the right-wing.
Zlatan Ibrahimović is the current starting striker. He’s still more than capable of starting, but Milan need more options. The Swede will turn 40 early next season. Mario Mandzukic is the current backup, but unlikely to stay. Rafael Leão can play striker but is better as a winger.
The attacking midfielder position belongs solely to Hakan Calhanoglu. He must renew his contract as well, but Milan are currently not targeting replacements for the time being. The left-wing position belongs to Ante Rebic, which leaves the right-wing open.
As of now, Milan’s top choice on the right-wing is Alexis Saelemaekers. The Belgian is decent by all means but lacks the flair often sought after on the wing. Saelemaekers is best suited as a top utility player off the bench. His backup option is Samu Castillejo. The Spaniard is often uninspiring, and his positive performances happen very rarely. Milan must move on.
That’s where Vazquez comes into play. He can instantly become a starting winger, or serve as an impact substitute, seeing as Stefano Pioli does have an affinity for Saelemakers. If Vazquez comes off the bench, he’ll immediately serve as the top attacking option in this current crop of players.
What Lucas Vazquez Brings
Vazquez has been on the Real Madrid first team since 2015, bringing plenty of experience. This, of course, includes victorious La Liga and Champions League campaigns. Vazquez never premiered as a major starter, but he consistently came off the bench and performed well.
This season, he has two goals and six assists in 24 La Liga appearances. He also has two assists in eight Champions League appearances. His two best campaigns came in the 2016/17 and 2017/18 La Liga seasons. In 2016/17, he scored two goals and provided nine assists, while in 2017/18, he scored four goals and provided eight assists. This came with a very crowded attack featuring plenty of superstars, and Vazquez still managed to find a place.
He’ll bring flair, skilful passing, strong positioning, and occasional goals for Milan. That’s exactly what this squad needs off the bench. Furthermore, should Milan make the Champions League, a player with Vazquez’s background and experience will be crucial.
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