Milan’s offensive strategy for 2024-25: who departs, who stays, and who will arrive.
AC Milan are the second-highest scorers in Serie A this season, but all indicators lead to an attacking revolution this summer.
As our friends at SempreMilan.it indicate, Geoffrey Moncada and his team of collaborators are planning for some significant changes in the forward ranks, beginning with Olivier Giroud’s departure. The Rossoneri mercato team is thus working on the acquisition of the next number nine, an investment that would have been necessary even if Giroud had not left to join Los Angeles FC in the MLS. The future No. 9 Joshua Zirkzee of Bologna continues to be at the top of the management list. For a variety of reasons, the Dutch striker is seen as the best candidate to round out Milan’s 2024-25 attacking lineup.
First, he has proven himself capable of competing in the Italian league. Second, in terms of playing style, he appears to get along well with Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic, implying that he has the potential to bring out the best in others as well. To take Zirkzee from Bologna, the Rossoneri will have to pay roughly €50 million: a steep price, but one that is equal to the asking costs set for the other profiles pursued by the club. Benjamins Sesko of RB Leipzig and Santiago Gimenez of Feyenoord are both valued between €40 and €50 million, while Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres appears to be beyond of reach at €70 million or more.
To date, only two less expensive options remain: Jonathan David, whose contract with Lille expires in 2025, and Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy, who has a release clause of under €20 million.
Who will remain? As previously stated, Giroud will leave Milan on a free transfer this summer to embark on a new journey in the United States. The situation for the other attackers in the squad (Luka Jovic and Noah Okafor) is unclear, but one piece of information could provide light on their future. The data in question is about goals scored from the bench. Milan leads the ‘top five’ European leagues in terms of replacement goals scored, with 14 in total. It is also the club’s three-point record.
Of the 14 goals scored by the’reserves’, eight are split evenly (four and four) by Jovic and Okafor, demonstrating how their ideal role is to come off the bench.
Combining this concept with the costs of their salary (they make €3.8 million net per season), it appears that Milan will want to use their services in the future as well. Going into depth, Jovic was a true thoroughbred striker for Milan in January. The former Fiorentina player saved the Rossoneri from a complete collapse against Salernitana, started the comeback against Udinese (which was later completed by Okafor), and scored the winning goal against Frosinone. Okafor, in addition to Udinese, was crucial in the rematch against Lazio, which was won thanks to his goal.
The other names For every Zirkzee that arrives (or could arrive), there should be a Camarda left. The Italian attacker is regarded as one of the top 16-year-olds in the world, and Milan will not allow his potential slip away. At the age of 15 years, 8 months, and 15 days, he made Serie A history as the youngest debutant ever, a record that has piqued the curiosity of elite teams such as Manchester City and Manchester United, who, however, are constrained by laws.