‘How to catch Inter’ – the moves Milan are planning in the summer window

The AC Milan management have a very precise goal in mind when it comes to the summer transfer window: improve the squad with a few targeted investments to close the gap to Inter.

As this morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes, Milan have conceded too many goals this season and one of the reasons that they have done so is because they lack a player to sit in front of the defence and offer balance in transitions, like Franck Kessie and Sandro Tonali did.

Regardless of the coach, a deeper-lying player is needed. Julen Lopetegui – who seems to be fading away as an idea – had the likes of Casemiro (Porto), Sergio Busquets (Spain) and Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) to help build a dam.

It could be Youssouf Fofana (Monaco) who arrives to fill that particular hole, and he would be supported by Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tijjani Reijnders in a new-look three-man midfield if it were a 4-3-3.

In that system Theo Hernandez would of course be fine if he stays, but the squad needs a quality alternative with Juan Miranda of Real Betis mentioned. Davide Calabria has had disappointing season so there will be reflections on the right too.

With Simon Kjaer confirmed to be leaving, a new central defender will be needed too, and Lilian Brassier of Brest remains very much on the list.

Samuel Chukwueze – who will grow after an adaptation season – and Rafael Leao ensure quality on the flanks, but in the middle a new and more dynamic centre-forward is required to replace the departing Olivier Giroud.

The first choice is Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee, but the management are studying profiles such as Jonathan David (Lille), Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP) and Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig).