Reports claim that Milan are “seriously considering” a move for Schalke 04 defender Matija Nastasic.
One game into the season and it’s so far, so good for Milan. But Stefano Pioli won’t be totally convinced of his side after just the opening day win against Bologna, with a seemingly glaring hole still in his side.
Despite the clean sheet on Monday, Milan have a limited number of center backs going into this new season. Simon Kjaer and Matteo Gabbia started in the middle of a four-strong defense, with Alessio Romagnoli injured, and Mateo Musacchio out as well.
It looked a somewhat make-shift defense, eagerly awaiting on the return of captain Romagnoli but looking a stable interim nevertheless. Pioli knows he needs to move for a central option before the window closes next month though.
Their no.1 choice was Nikola Milenkovic. The Rossoneri slept on this one too long and now it seems that the chance to sign the Fiorentina man has come and gone. Now Milan have turned his attention to Schalke’s Nastasic, in what seems like a “last resort” kind of deal.
Fans will hear the words “Schalke” and “defender” in the same sentence and immediately become unsettled. The German outfit have become somewhat synonymous with poor defending after their 8-0 whitewash at Bayern last week – of which, Nastasic was injured for.
The Serb may have spared his personal blushes that day, and he may be relieved of his painful defensive duties at the club. Last season though, Nastasic spent most of his time on the sidelines featuring only 16 times in the Bundesliga.
He played twice in pre-season for Schalke this time around before picking up another knock, and now he’s out again. So why, if Pioli is looking for a center-back to counteract the injuries he already has in that position, would he sign another injury prone defender?
In fact, Nastasic has never featured more than 30 times in a league campaign. His best season probably came in the 2016-17, when he made 35 appearances in all competitions for Schalke, with 10 of those coming in the Europa League.
He’s a hardened defender, typical of the Serbian stereotype, and a versatile one at that. Tall and strong in the air but a ball player, with an ounce of skill in both feet. He’s no doubt a talented footballer and someone who Schalke obviously miss, but is he the answer to Milan’s problems?
No price-tag has yet been discussed. It’s hard to imagine Schalke being able to hold out for much more than 20 million euros though, for a 27-year-old defender with a troubled injury past, and two years left on his contract.
For Milan though, the problem at center-back is pressing. Although Milan cruised through Bologna with minimal stress, when the likes of Inter, Juventus, Napoli, Atalanta and co. come to town, those problems will no doubt arise.
Getting Romagnoli back on the pitch as fast as possible is also key, but more importantly, Pioli can not rush him back. He needs to find defensive cover in this window though and the loan market might not be a bad venture. But someone needs to come in sooner rather than later.