The Rossoneri's management have been looking for reinforcements at the back during this month's winter transfer window. They had their sights set on Italy's new international Buongiorno, but with negotiations with Torino not going well, the Bulls were asking too much and Pioli's side had to look for other, more realistic solutions.
Moncada and Frani could opt to sign a promising young defender on loan before making detailed decisions on their stay this summer, with Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah and Sevilla's Kwasi being the favourites at the moment. Both in terms of input costs and the development potential of players, they meet the requirements of the Red Bird Group for the sustainable development of the transfer market.
The 24-year-old has yet to feature this season due to injuries and fierce competition for places, and the player himself will be hoping to switch environments for more consistent playing time. The Rossoneri have been briefed on the players from the Blues and Mauricio Pochettino's side are open to leaving on loan.
It is worth mentioning that AC Milan's last defender to be brought in from Chelsea, Fikayo Tomori, was also at a disadvantage in the competition within the team, but it didn't take long for him to settle in the team after landing at the San Siro and convincing the club to buy him out at the end of the season for a transfer fee of more than 2,800 euros. Considering that the two clubs have maintained a good relationship in the past, the two sides are also expected to reach a consensus on the Chalobah deal.
Kwasi, who is currently playing for Sevilla in La Liga, is also a favourite of Moncada, a player who was included in the Rossoneri's scouting team when Paris Saint-Germain made his debut. He joined Bayern Munich as a free agent in the summer of 2020 and moved to Sevilla for a whopping €16 million after two seasons. Perhaps not adapting to the pace of La Liga, the 21-year-old Frenchman is considering the possibility of leaving.
At the same time, some of the young players in AC Milan's squad may also leave on loan for training. Promoted Frosinone is interested in signing Baltesagi on loan, and the 18-year-old has shown great potential in seven appearances for the Rossoneri in all competitions this season. Although Monza also asked about the status of the Italian youth international in the winter transfer window, there was no real progress in negotiations, and Frosinone's intentions were clearer.
After this adjustment and change, AC Milan only needs to face two fronts in the next season, and can definitely try to challenge for the Europa League crown. With injuries back and players returning for the Africa Cup of Nations, Stefano Pioli's side have little to worry about in attack, and the efficiency of Jovic and Okafor has given the coaching staff more options against different opponents. Despite the loss of Krunic in midfield, the rise of Adli and the integration of Moussa have also left the team with enough manpower.
The biggest change is at the back, with the centre-back complemented and the Frenchman Te'o returning to his familiar left flank, forming a sharp attacking combination with Rafael Leao in front of him. With Kjaer, Gabia, Simic and Fikayo Tomori, Gauff and Kalulu returning to action in February-March, plus new signings that could join in the winter window, manager Stefano Pioli doesn't need to worry about it at all. In addition, Florenzi, Terracciano and reserve youngster Jimenez could also rotate the two captains, Calabria and Te'o, on the flanks.
With a solid top-four finish in Serie A, but still a point gap between the top two teams Inter Milan and Juventus, the Europa League has become AC Milan's best chance of winning the trophy this season. In terms of the strength of the team, the Rossoneri, Premier League giants Liverpool, and Bundesliga powerhouse Bayer Leverkusen are also the biggest favorites to win the tournament, but the difference is that they still need to face fierce competition in the league and cannot be easily distracted.