AC Milan fans are eagerly awaiting the introduction of a quality striker next season, and the club's management is in full swing to sift through potential candidates. Choosing wisely is crucial, after all, the team is in desperate need of a goalkeeper who can make the final move.
AC Milan are currently showing a keen interest in Kevin Ascending to the throne, a promising rising star who plays in the Jupiler Pro League (as shown by the Instagram account Cercle Brugge, reported by Milan Live.it). With Olivier Giroud likely not to renew his contract and expected to move to the United States to join Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer, the change makes sense given that he is 38 years old and can no longer be a regular striker for the Rossoneri. Although he himself has not yet admitted to reaching an agreement with the California club, the trip is highly likely to be a new start in his career.
Luka Jovic, meanwhile, will face a contract decision, and despite his ups and downs, he has scored eight goals in 26 appearances this season. In the coming weeks, the club's management will need to decide whether to activate the unilateral renewal option in his favour.
Should Olivier Giroud and Jovic both leave, Milan will inevitably bring in two strikers to fill the void. In the midst of this uncertainty, management continues to monitor and evaluate a number of centre-forward candidates.
According to calciomercato.com, AC Milan's interest in Kevin is getting more and more serious. Scouts have taken a closer look at the 23-year-old Togolese international in Belgium, who has been in a stellar form this season, scoring 25 goals in 31 games in the Jupiler Pro League and Belgian Cup, with a contract running until June 2026 and a current market value of around €15 million.
Milan's appreciation for the ascension to the throne is palpable, and he could be a key target should the need shift to recruiting two strikers. At 1.81 metres tall, the 1.81-metre ascendant is not only physically fit and impressively fast, but also has excellent technical skills and on-field leadership to prove himself in the higher leagues. Brugge acquired from Nimes for €2 million in January 2021 and with 49 goals and 12 assists in 116 appearances, Serie A may be his next stop. Although Milan keep a high eye on him, there are also other clubs who have sent scouts to keep an eye on him and are considering buying him for around 15 million euros.
Statistically, Ascend has averaged 4.2 shots per game in the league, with a whopping 1.6 shots on target, scoring 1 goal every 111 minutes, averaging 0.8 goals per game, totalling 25 goals, and despite missing 14 great chances, the goal conversion rate is also 19%, and the expected goals (xG) is 21.26. Twenty-four of the 25 goals came from inside the box, one was scored from distance, one headed into the net, seven with the left foot and 16 with the right foot.
In addition to his scoring prowess, he averaged 1.1 key passes per game, created three great chances, averaged 45.5 touches per game, and had a slightly under-completed pass completion rate of 67 per cent.
Defensively, he averaged 0.1 tackles, 0.6 interceptions, 1.1 recoveries in the third zone, and an average of 3.1 clearances per game.
On the offensive end, he averaged 1.3 successful dribbles per game, a 59 per cent success rate, and was fouled 1.6 times per game. In addition, Dengji won an average of 6.7 duels per game, with an overall dueling success rate of 36%, including an average of 3.2 aerial duels per game, with a 32% success rate in aerial duels per game.
Overall, Kevin Ascend is particularly strong in high pressing and finishing, but there is still room for improvement in passing accuracy, consistency in possession and aerial duels.