AC Milan are finally back in the Champions League. More than that, they’re also ready to compete for the Serie A crown, as seen in their performances last season before injuries played a large part in them finishing second. The ability to compete, of course, comes down to squad quality. The Rossoneri have made shrewd moves in the transfer market thus far, but there are still two positions of need.
AC Milan: Two Positions of Need
The Midfield
Milan manager Stefano Pioli deploys a 4-2-3-1 formation, which is unlikely to change due to its success. Franck Kessie and Ismael Bennacer are the starting midfielders. Behind them, depth-wise comes from Sandro Tonali, Rade Krunic, and Tommaso Pobega.
First and foremost, Bennacer struggled with injury throughout last season. He’s a pivotal player, and his absence was always obvious. Milan need reinforcements behind him.
Tonali is the best bet to be the first name off the bench when it comes to the midfield. The Italian starlet is a do-it-all holding midfielder who’s on the verge of breaking out. He can very well be a starter for Milan for years down the road, so the Rossoneri must use him more.
Krunic is a decent depth option, but he’s never really going to change the outcome of a game. His place in the depth chart shouldn’t be as high as it is right now as he’s best suited as a utility player. Pobega, coming back from a loan at Spezia, is a decent prospect but still largely unproven.
Kessie and Bennacer will likely be gone for January fulfilling African Cup of Nations duties, leaving Milan with major questions in the midfield. Tonali will certainly start during this time, barring injury, and Milan needs to find a partner for him before the end of the market.
Right-Winger
In the same formation, Milan use three players behind the lone striker. Ante Rebic will take the left-winger spot, as of now Brahim Diaz will play in the middle (although Milan may look to upgrade), but the right-winger position will be one of Alexis Saelemaekers or Samu Castillejo.
Saelemaekers is a popular name amongst Rossoneri faithful. He clearly loves the team and the opportunity to play and plays with his heart on his sleeve every time he’s on the pitch. The only issue is his quality. The Belgian is a solid player by all means but is best suited coming off the bench.
Castillejo has been a flop during his Milan career – the Spaniard is wildly inconsistent but his top performances are rarely worthy of a starting position. Milan must upgrade if they truly want to score regularly versus the top defences in the Champions League.
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