Firstly, rumour has it we're looking to sign Vermaelen... Would that mean no Musacchio?
I would never take Cuadrado over Pjaca. I'd take them both in a heartbeat, or settle for Cuadrado if we fail to sign Pjaca (even though one prefers the right wing and the other the left). The fact is simple: Pjaca, Gabriel Jesus and a couple others are probably the most exciting young prospects around. I'd prefer to get them now and risk having to sell them to the hundred other clubs that would take the gamble a year or two down the road and get our money back, instead of buying them for 60-70m in a couple years if they succeed. All it takes these days is for Pjaca to score 10-12 goals in Serie A and clubs will be knocking on the door with 40m offers.
Despite the fact that I'm not very confident with most our deals, I feel like the Juventus rumours surrounding him are BS. Frankly, it's pretty insane for Pjaca's agent to say they didn't talk about Pjaca's future when Galliani was in Zagreb when there's a picture all over the net of them together at the restaurant. I think they're just playing some media game, and the minute the preliminary contract is signed they'll probably get him. The only factor is if Pjaca doesn't want to come to Milan, but then Zagreb would stand in the way and Juve would have to up their offer, which they officially stated they didn't/wont. I'm quite confident regarding both Musacchio and Pjaca but anything could go wrong so fingers are crossed.
In terms of all our other targets, I'm not sure. Cuadrado would make sense if we play a 4-3-3 because he could play on the right and that's where we desperately need someone. Pjaca would essentially be either taking Bonaventuras spot, or we'd play an offensive variation of the 4-3-3 where Pjaca would be playing as a trequartista and two defensive mids behind him.
A lot of potential this mercato, and so far I'm liking the names coming up. It's hard to believe Galliani is thinking of the likes of Musacchio, Pjaca, Lapadula etc., players who are affordable (under 30m) and have either high potential or have been consistently good and have a high chance of success at a bigger club (Musacchio), if he stays fit. Personally I'd go with a midfield mercato of Kovacic, one of Sosa or Valero, and since Paredes is off the market - someone similar if possible. It wont be high cost (probably around 50m) and it would take us a long way.
Overall, most reports say the Chinese will give Montella 100-150m for the mercato depending on how much he needs. If this doesn't include player sales like Bacca,Menez, Adriano then we can really get creative with signing mids. I'd still probably buy Kovacic, one of Sosa or Valero like I said, but then splash out 30m or so on another big name.
IN:
Pjaca 25m
Cuadrado 30m
Kovacic 25m
Sosa 6m
Zaza 20m
Musacchio 20m
Pastore 30m
TOTAL: 156mln
OUT:
Menez 10m
Bacca 28m
Adriano 7m
TOTAL: 45M
156M-45M=111M
So essentially, something like that would run us right along our budget.. But we'd have one hell of a team
--------------Pjaca----------------Zaza----------------Cuadrado--------------
------------Pastore--------------Sosa-----------------Kovacic-----------------
----DS------------Romagnoli--------------Musacchio--------------Abate-----
------------------------------Donnarumma-------------------------------------
Forwards: Niang, Lapadula, Bonaventura,Honda, Suso
Midfield: Montolivo, Bertolacci, Poli, Kucka, Locatelli, Mauri
Defenders: Zapata, Paletta, Vergara, Ely, Vangioni, Antonelli, Calabria
Goalkeepers: Agazzi, Gabriel
All of them other than Bonaventura should be subs at a team like Milan anyhow.
I would never take Cuadrado over Pjaca. I'd take them both in a heartbeat, or settle for Cuadrado if we fail to sign Pjaca (even though one prefers the right wing and the other the left). The fact is simple: Pjaca, Gabriel Jesus and a couple others are probably the most exciting young prospects around. I'd prefer to get them now and risk having to sell them to the hundred other clubs that would take the gamble a year or two down the road and get our money back, instead of buying them for 60-70m in a couple years if they succeed. All it takes these days is for Pjaca to score 10-12 goals in Serie A and clubs will be knocking on the door with 40m offers.
Despite the fact that I'm not very confident with most our deals, I feel like the Juventus rumours surrounding him are BS. Frankly, it's pretty insane for Pjaca's agent to say they didn't talk about Pjaca's future when Galliani was in Zagreb when there's a picture all over the net of them together at the restaurant. I think they're just playing some media game, and the minute the preliminary contract is signed they'll probably get him. The only factor is if Pjaca doesn't want to come to Milan, but then Zagreb would stand in the way and Juve would have to up their offer, which they officially stated they didn't/wont. I'm quite confident regarding both Musacchio and Pjaca but anything could go wrong so fingers are crossed.
In terms of all our other targets, I'm not sure. Cuadrado would make sense if we play a 4-3-3 because he could play on the right and that's where we desperately need someone. Pjaca would essentially be either taking Bonaventuras spot, or we'd play an offensive variation of the 4-3-3 where Pjaca would be playing as a trequartista and two defensive mids behind him.
A lot of potential this mercato, and so far I'm liking the names coming up. It's hard to believe Galliani is thinking of the likes of Musacchio, Pjaca, Lapadula etc., players who are affordable (under 30m) and have either high potential or have been consistently good and have a high chance of success at a bigger club (Musacchio), if he stays fit. Personally I'd go with a midfield mercato of Kovacic, one of Sosa or Valero, and since Paredes is off the market - someone similar if possible. It wont be high cost (probably around 50m) and it would take us a long way.
Overall, most reports say the Chinese will give Montella 100-150m for the mercato depending on how much he needs. If this doesn't include player sales like Bacca,Menez, Adriano then we can really get creative with signing mids. I'd still probably buy Kovacic, one of Sosa or Valero like I said, but then splash out 30m or so on another big name.
IN:
Pjaca 25m
Cuadrado 30m
Kovacic 25m
Sosa 6m
Zaza 20m
Musacchio 20m
Pastore 30m
TOTAL: 156mln
OUT:
Menez 10m
Bacca 28m
Adriano 7m
TOTAL: 45M
156M-45M=111M
So essentially, something like that would run us right along our budget.. But we'd have one hell of a team
--------------Pjaca----------------Zaza----------------Cuadrado--------------
------------Pastore--------------Sosa-----------------Kovacic-----------------
----DS------------Romagnoli--------------Musacchio--------------Abate-----
------------------------------Donnarumma-------------------------------------
Forwards: Niang, Lapadula, Bonaventura,Honda, Suso
Midfield: Montolivo, Bertolacci, Poli, Kucka, Locatelli, Mauri
Defenders: Zapata, Paletta, Vergara, Ely, Vangioni, Antonelli, Calabria
Goalkeepers: Agazzi, Gabriel
All of them other than Bonaventura should be subs at a team like Milan anyhow.