Milan currently lead the Serie A table with a perfect 12 points from their opening four games, but Stefano Pioli will be eyeing up January, and some potential areas of his squad that he needs to improve upon. The mid-season “pit stop” is the ideal opportunity for managers to refill the gaps in their squads, and make the necessary changes as they hone in on the season’s penultimate.
But where might Milan be looking to improve, and with who? Here we take a look at five English Premier League outcasts that Milan could look to sign in the January transfer window.
Xherdan Shaqiri
Pioli and Milan fans were dealt a bitter blow this week when it was revealed that Hakan Calhanoglu has been sidelined owing to a sprained ankle. It doesn’t look as serious as first thought but the Turk is no stranger with injury, and Pioli might sense that he needs some more creative cover in his squad.
Liverpool’s Shaqiri could add to that bracket. The Swiss international is yet to feature in the Premier League this season but remains a player of real class, and one who’s maybe been overlooked in recent seasons.
Four years since Shaqiri had that blinder at Hull. pic.twitter.com/BQAU0zBHhP
— Pete Smith (@PeteSmith1983) October 22, 2020
Jesse Lingard
Another name and outcast who could potentially come in and fill a gap at Milan is Lingard. The 27-year-old has endured a tough couple of seasons after his initial breakthrough at United, and now his future remains up in the air.
With just 10 minutes of Premier League football to his name this season, Lingard might well be heading for a loan move in January. He almost joined West Brom last summer, but Milan could well be the ideal place for a player like Lingard to rediscover form, and prosper in doing so.
Jesse Lingard's 17/18 stats:
39 Games ??♂️
13 Goals ⚽️
5 Assists ?️#MUFC pic.twitter.com/NbPlog3tLB— DILLINGER ? (@DillanMUFC) April 3, 2018
Mesut Ozil
The contested German has taken another downturn at Arsenal, after Mikel Arteta left him out of both his Premier League and European squads this month.
It’s proved to become a desperate turn of events for the midfielder who was once so globally adored and now his imminent exit looks all the more so. Milan could be a great fit, and a great place for Ozil to rekindle his career.
Wages aside, the Premier League star could complete a short-term loan deal with Milan, and who knows what might happen from there.
Ozil's agent has hit out at Arteta! ? pic.twitter.com/vXeu8jZlZz
— Goal (@goal) October 23, 2020
Antonio Rudiger
The Chelsea man was linked with Milan throughout the summer. A versatile defender, Rudiger has become surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge after Frank Lampard’s summer spending spree, and he could become available in January.
Reports have claimed that Milan were offered Rudiger for 30M euros over the summer and if Pioli still feels he needs defensive cover come January, then Rudiger would make perfect sense.
Chelsea 'asked clubs interested in unwanted defender Antonio Rudiger for £12.5m to LOAN the player' https://t.co/AY9Vz8apIc
— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) October 20, 2020
Olivier Giroud
The classy Frenchman is another Chelsea man who’s fallen fate to Frank’s summer antics, with Timo Werner and Tammy Abraham currently keeping him out of the starting line-up.
But the 34-year-old remains a French international and a prominent striker, and one that could really benefit Milan should they become involved with a title race in the second-half of the season.
A classy player for a classy club, this could be a real scoop for Milan, and a potential replacement for the ever-performing Zlatan Ibrahimovich in the coming seasons.
This Olivier Giroud worldie really doesn't get talked about enough ?pic.twitter.com/gfRTrW7B9s
— Goal (@goal) October 19, 2020