The defensive emergency will force Milan back into the transfer market as Stefano Pioli needs to address an ominous-looking crisis. Injuries to numerous defenders have left the Rossoneri boss strapped for options.
With prodigious teenager Jan-Carlo Simic being the only remaining defensive choice, Milan must dive back into the market pool. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Italians’ plan is to add two more defenders in the upcoming transfer window.
Matteo Gabbia is the first name on the list. Loaned out to Villarreal in the summer, the homegrown San Siro center-back has failed to land a regular first-team football in Spain. Milan are keen to recall him in January as they look for cost-effective signings following a free-spending recruitment campaign in the summer.
In addition to Gabbia, Milan must sign another defender. Fikayo Tomori picked up a muscle injury against Salernitana and could remain on the sidelines for two months. Tomori’s injury compounded the crisis. Malick Thiaw, Pierre Kalulu, Marco Pellegrino, and Mattia Caldara are long-term absentees.
Simon Kjaer is the only senior option. Yet, the Dane’s proneness to injuries makes him a liability. Milan relied on Theo Hernandez to fill the void in recent matches. However, shifting the Frenchman to the middle hurts Pioli’s gameplan, leaving Rossoneri exposed at left-back.
With that in mind, Milan desperately need another out-and-out center-half. Nordi Mukiele, Clement Lenglet, and Thilo Kehrer have recently emerged as potential candidates to fill the vacancy. But it’s still early to make an educated guess.
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