A new era is about to begin at Milan after it was confirmed by Fininvest that the club had been is to be sold to a Chinese consortium headed by Han Li. A €740 million takeover is imminent with the rossoneri in debt to the tune of €220 million. The agreement also states that the new owners will look to recapitalise the club and invest €350 million over the next three years of which €100 will be payable on completion of the sale.
 

Nothing low-cost now in the house of Milan, no players to arrive only on-loan or on free transfers; new boss Montella will have the financial capacity to compete in the transfer market and bolster his squad for the upcoming campaign.  

In goal, Montella can count upon Gigi Donnarumma and his deputy Gabriel. There will be a third goalkeeping arrival but it’s unclear who that player will be. Gustavo Gomez will not be the only defensive reinforcement with the rossoneri looking for another partner for Alessio Romagnoli despite the presence of Gomez and Gabriel Paletta. For a low-cost idea the road could lead to Martin Caceres, ex Juventus and long-time admired by the coach. As well as the Uruguayan, the target still remains Mateo Musacchio of Villarreal; the rossoneri have been tracking the 25-year-old Argentine all summer.  

For his midfield Montella has asked for a player who can orchestrate the personnel around him. Names in the frame include Mateo Kovacic, formerly of Inter and now with Real Madrid and Leandro Paredes of Roma who spent last season on-loan at Empoli. Then there is Badelj, a player who Montella had during his time on the bench at Fiorentina. The 27-year-old Croatian is still undecided about his future and should he decide to leave Tuscany, then Milan will be his preferred destination.
 

Having already taken striker Gianluca Lapadula, Milan now searches for a wide man to provide the ammunition. In pole-position is Juan Cuadrado, if Chelsea can be convinced to sell the Colombian international. New Blues boss Antonio Conte is reluctant to do this and it looks like being a real tug-of-war between the two clubs. Alternatively, we have Papu Gomez of Atalanta; another player Montella knows well from their time together at Catania and Moussa Sissoko of Newcastle United who has been told that the club won’t stand in his way should he want to leave this summer.  

Either Carlos Bacca or Luiz Adriano will be sold thus opening up a vacancy in the attack with Lapadula. Milan is fond of Juve frontman Simone Zaza and he’s the player Montella really wants to strenghthen the front-line. The Italian international is currently weighing up a possible move to Wolfsburg but this latest news may be enough to bring him to Milanello.


By Alessandro Cosattini. Adapted and translated by Steve Mitchell