MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 18: Santiago Gimenez of AC Milan celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between AC Milan and Feyenoord at San Siro Stadium on February 18, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Milan’s Upcoming Decisions
Igli Tare, Milan’s director, stated that they will decide tomorrow whether to trade Santiago Gimenez for Roma’s Artem Dovbyk, market Yunus Musah to Atalanta, and wait on Manuel Akanji.
Their Serie A game against Lecce is set to begin at 19:45 UK time (18:45 GMT). Fans can follow the match’s build-up and updates in the Liveblog.
Milan is under significant pressure following a disappointing start to their Serie A campaign, marked by a 2-1 home loss to newly-promoted Cremonese.
Challenges Ahead
Tare acknowledges that Milan has considerable work ahead of them. The transfer market is a focal point, especially after Christopher Nkunku’s recent acquisition from Chelsea for €37m, plus €5m in performance-related bonuses.
“Choosing wisely is the toughest part,” Tare told Sky Sport Italia. “Nkunku has been on our radar, particularly after Rafael Leao’s injury, which left us short on pace.”
Potential Forward Swap
Reports indicate that Milan and Roma are contemplating another forward swap, this time involving Gimenez and Dovbyk. Tare confirmed the squad is adequate but is exploring an exchange for Gimenez, contingent on post-game evaluations.
“We can’t maintain both strikers due to the limited schedule. An exchange is the only scenario where it’s feasible.”
Musah’s Future in Question
Yunus Musah was close to moves to Napoli, Nottingham Forest, and Atalanta this summer, but he starts against Lecce, suggesting he might remain. “We’ll assess this situation post-match,” Tare noted. A deal with Atalanta had been initiated, but complications arose due to Jashari’s injury.
Talks with Manchester City
Milan is in negotiations with Manchester City regarding Manuel Akanji, willing to accept a €15m offer; however, the player seems hesitant about a transfer to San Siro.
“We are still awaiting his response, but recent developments have complicated matters. We need to act swiftly in the final 72 hours of the transfer window to secure an experienced player,” Tare concluded.
Shifting Tactical Approaches
Max Allegri is experimenting with different tactical formations, alternating between three and four defenders against Cremonese and Lecce. Tare mentioned that they’ve reassessed strategies due to defensive lapses observed against Cremonese.
“The loss to Cremonese was challenging. We need to secure a win tonight for the fans who deserve a competitive team,” Tare said, urging for resilience and determination.
This retains the essential content while presenting it in a rephrased manner.
