Summer mercato 2024

[Bennacer]

Romano 30 minutes ago: "Fofana signing could be closed very soon"

[reza]

Why do you say that? I think CF, CB, RB and CM/DM is exactly what we needed before the window opened. 

So in terms of actual "need", we are getting exactly what's needed. In terms of quality? Time will tell. 

As far as timing goes, as long as we get exactly what we need, I don't care if we go to 8/31. It's not ideal, sure. But it's the way the market works....especially for a club like ours that operates under a strict budget.

I guess I meant quality.
What we need is arguable depending on how you think about it, replacing a departing CF with another is a need but we need more to improve. If Morata produces as much as as Giroud it is status quo, not improvement. Others not all that different.

[nefremo]

Agree. But the hope is that they'll deliver more. Emerson more than Calabria, Pavlovic more than Thiaw/Gabbia and Morata more than Giroud.

We'll see if that happens or not.

[honsano]

You know when it comes to upgrades from last season, the true upgrade may be Fonseca. He is the wild card. He could be like Ancelotti and turn this group into winnners or like Pioli and squander talent. Having a system in place is seemingly a big start.

I just can’t believe we are weeks into this transfer campaign and still negotiating for a player with an expiring contract. Why we are not at plan B blows my mind. Fofana better be the truth is all I’m saying.

[Sleeping Giant]

If Kalulu sold off we probably have to go for LB/Left sided Full back.

[Zio Fester]

Fofana is hardly a Redondo. Mid 20s and still bouncing around in French league. 

None of the signings so far are moving the needle, just more of the same bland mediocrity.

[ACMmike]

Fonseca pretty much confirmed Fofana after the Monza game. They asked about Mercato and he specifically said we're missing a final piece in the midfield and we all know that player is Fofana. It's pretty much a done deal just waiting for final tweaks to be announced. There's been all this media crap with they want 20 now its 25 etc., I don't buy into all the reports. They bounced around like that about Pavlovic and others too but they're all wearing our shirt now.

What I'm more interested in is if there's any truth behind the Chiesa rumours. Very intrigued by that. He was one of my fave players in his Fiorentina days and he was phenomenal in Italy's euro win + for Juve before his injury. Would be a steal to pick him up at this point, usually players like him are very unobtainable. I'm just as impressed by Saelemakers as anyone who's watched him but I'll never be fooled by an impressive preseason to put losing out on Chiesa for keeping Saelemakers. They can have him nd Kalulu + cash for Chiesa.

I just can't really see the Chiesa being anything really feasible... I mean sure we can let Saelemakers go in a swap but we have Pulisic who I wouldn't want to see lose minutes to anyone really. He was a great player last season and I think he still has more to offer than what we've seen. Chukwueze is desperate to prove himself and also said that he is very grateful for the faith and motivation that Fonseca has shown him since being appointed. Can't see any sudden U-turns after we invested some pretty decent $$ on Chuk.

In my opinion, I think the biggest risk we carry going into this new season is depending on Jovic-Morata as our only two striker options. Jovic will appear and score at important times yes. Morata is a solid striker don't get me wrong, I do rate him - but he's no Lautaro Martinez. I don't see him 20-30 goals in a season. He strikes me as a player who will score 12-14 goals and a few assists. Good contribution sure but I really did think the major priority in this market was a top top tier striker. I know there aren't many and if there is they cost big $$$ but it doesn't make sense when Ibra says Cardinale wants to invest a lot of $$ and he tells him he will spend where necessary. F***ing drop 100m on a striker if that's the case!!

Midfield and defence + GK seems nicely covered. Once Fofana is signed:

Midfielders: Fofana, Musah, Reijnders, RLC, Bennacer, Adli, Pobega is great depth and quality.
GK: Maignan + Torriani who I think can genuinely be another Donnarumma level keeper on our hands. The kid played like a stud in pre season I get that it's preseason but he was damn impressive regardless. He's so calm and composed & his footwork is impeccable. Great passing and calm control with his feet.

Leao will turn up, hopefully Fonseca can take him out of his inconsistency.
RB Calabria, Jimenez, Emerson is very solid. I think Emerson will be a pleasant surprise.
LB worries me slightly. Terraciano is literally terrible. Theo injury could end out being a big problem if we ever need to depend on him.

CB's even with Kalulu leaving I can see a Tomori-Pavlovic partnership being hella nice. Pavlovic seems like a beast.

[Inas]

Fofana is hardly a Redondo. Mid 20s and still bouncing around in French league. 

None of the signings so far are moving the needle, just more of the same bland mediocrity.

Just out of curiosity, Zio. And no offense - but have you ever said or seen anything positive about the club's action here?

[Inas]

Why do you say that? I think CF, CB, RB and CM/DM is exactly what we needed before the window opened. 

So in terms of actual "need", we are getting exactly what's needed. In terms of quality? Time will tell. 

As far as timing goes, as long as we get exactly what we need, I don't care if we go to 8/31. It's not ideal, sure. But it's the way the market works....especially for a club like ours that operates under a strict budget.

My thoughts as well. I mean, for me, the fact that they recognized these particular areas as needing upgrades and acted on them, is a plus already. Particularly the RB. For a club working on a strict budget, the "safe" thing to do would have been... nothing. But they still spent there. So that's a good sign. For quality, hard to say there won't be improvement
- Morata can definitely contribute more than Giroud, particularly in overall team play, creating and opening up space. Will he be as prolific, or even better? Can't say for now.
- Pavlovic. That's no brainer. He's obviously what we've been missing in defense. At least, his "type" - strong, physical, aggressive.
- Emerson Royal. The one nobody wants [emoji3]. Condemned before he even started. Is he that terrible? Hard to believe he's not a good addition to the right side of the defense. And he's said to be versatile, can play in the middle. This was a player the "almighty" Maldini wanted to buy. I'm reserving judgement but I'm optimistic he can't be worse than Kalulu and Calabria.
- Fofana. We all wanted this guy. It's unanimous, all Milan fans agreed on this transfer.

So all in all, I feel it's not a bad mercato. Certainly not sterling, but not terrible either.

[Arildonardo]

Fofana is hardly a Redondo. Mid 20s and still bouncing around in French league. 

None of the signings so far are moving the needle, just more of the same bland mediocrity.

Mbappé was also bouncing around French league when Fofana's age.

21 appearances for France national team the last 2 years is something too.

Let's hope he can become more for us than Redondo was as he was ruined by injuries.

Will probably take some time with Fofana though, it's not good that he's been missing the whole preseason. And he's still not here...