AC Milan are missing out on a deal for Lille and Portuguese midfielder Renato Sanches, according to Gianluca Di Marzio. The Rossoneri have been interested in the player for quite some time and were keen on brining him in to replace Franck Kessie and join other former Lille players in Rafael Leao and Mike Maignan. In fact, Sanches will be the second Lille player Milan will miss out on this summer as Sven Botman heads to Newcastle United.
Di Marzio reports that Sanches moving to Paris Saint-Germain is almost a done deal. Luis Campos, a new advisor for PSG, was monumental in this move as he formerly worked with Sanches at Lille.
#Calciomercato | @acmilan, @renatosanches35 si allontana: si è promesso al @PSG_inside https://t.co/FSg9NVqa8P
— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) June 28, 2022
AC Milan Are Missing Out on Renato Sanches
The Midfield Problem
Milan now have a problem in the midfield. Kessie’s departure to Barcelona was in the cards months ago, meaning Milan had plenty of tim to plan ahead. The team identified two targets in Sanches and Enzo Fernandez, but are set to miss out on both players.
This leaves Sandro Tonali and Ismael Bennacer as the main midfield options with little depth behind them. Tonali and Bennacer are phenomenal players, but two quality midfielders isn’t nearly enough.
🚨 Luis Campos has convinced Renato Sanches to sign for PSG.
(Source: @DiMarzio) pic.twitter.com/VgJvm4t8gp
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) June 28, 2022
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Those depth options are Rade Krunic and Tiémoué Bakayoko. Krunic can play around the field, but is primarily used by Milan in a more advanced attacking midfield role. Bakayoko, on the other hand, was quite disappointing last season. It’s important to note that Kessie has been one of the club’s most crucial players over the past few seasons, so his replacement must be just as good or better. Milan are still in a positive state as reigning Serie A champions, but work must be done quickly if the club hopes to repeat that and emerge as a competitive Champions League squad.
