Disappointing performances by Milan in last night’s TIM TROPHY have once again laid bare the defensive frailties of the rossoneri. Despite the mentality of Montella to produce attractive football teams, the back-line still needs a lot of work and with the August 31 deadline getting ever nearer, reinforcements are needed.
 

The problem at the moment remains the budget available for new signings and the fact that Galliani is looking for a new midfield dynamo. Villarreal’s Mateo Musacchio, with whom dialogue still remains open despite the Spanish side’s reluctance to let the player go out on-loan, looks to be getting ever more difficult to bring to the club; the rossoneri will need to find €25 million to secure his signature.  

Cheaper, but not 100% convincing, the idea of Andrea Ranocchia remains a possibility. Having spent five-month on-loan at Sampdoria, the 28-year-old is now back at Inter and looking for a move away. According to French sports daily L’Equipe, Manchester City’s Eliaquim Mangala is also a possibility. The 25-year-old Frenchman has failed to cope with the pace of the Premier League and the arrival of John Stones has sealed his fate at the Etihad Stadium. It’s unthinkable that the Citizens can claw back the €30 million they paid in 2014 but the French journal claims that Milan and Valencia have made preliminary enquiries.

Steve Mitchell @barafundler