AC Milan will now finalise deal for 21-year-old maestro as they identify other top targets

According to a rumor, AC Milan plans to finalize the signing of a center-back shortly, and two further signings could follow to close out the window.

The No. 1 target for the position right now, center-back Marco Pellegrino, is reportedly being negotiated for by Milan with Club Atletico Platense, according to the most recent report from MilanNews’ Pietro Mazzara.

The management has made it clear that they do not want to pay more than €5–6 million for the 21-year-old player, but they are willing to include a resale clause to sweeten the deal and speed up the process.

The Rossoneri will switch to buying a striker once a central defender has been found, with Lorenzo Colombo prepared to go on loan, according to Mazzara.

Additionally, though no names are revealed, the leadership will consider adding another central midfielder if the appropriate opportunity arises.

AC Milan are expected to have zero Italian players in their starting line-up for their Serie A opener against Bologna on Monday night, but how did this become a possibility?

This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) has a double page spread titled ‘Milan internazionale’ which makes note of the fact that the Rossoneri are likely to have a fully foreign starting XI against Bologna due to Davide Calabria’s fitness problems.

Milan’s Italian influence has been on the decline for some time though and at the end of the summer transfer window there will be just five Azzurri players left in the squad, the lowest quota ever recorded.

Last year there were six, in 2021-22 they were nine and the year before that – in the 2020-21 season – the number was eight. But Why are the Diavolo choosing to almost always go abroad to buy players?

The first reason is because it’s economically convenient. As an example, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tijjani Reijnders combined cost as much as Davide Frattesi at Inter, while they can also take advantage of the Growth Decree.

The second reason is that the Rossoneri are betting on the European experience of even quite young players. This is so Pioli has a squad with an international feel; one that is more athletic, aggressive and physical.