Milan bench, sensational indiscretion: Lopetegui’s idea
Sensational indiscretion from Spain regarding the future of the Milan bench, with Pioli in the balance and called to obtain confirmation in these last 4 months between the championship and the Europa League. As reported by Matteo Moretto in fact, journalist of Reliefa well-known Spanish portal, the most appreciated profile for the possible succession of the former Inter coach is Julian Lopetegui, currently a free agent after his last experience at Wolverhampton.
Pioli’s Milan lost the derby badly
The Spanish coach is among the most respected for methodologies, skills and ability to develop a young and winning project. Lopetegui won two European titles with Spain U19 and U20, a Europa League with Sevilla, the team with which he qualified for the Champions League three consecutive times and achieved qualification for the 2018 World Cup after a series of 20 matches without defeat. He also coached Real Madrid for a short time. Recently he rejected a millionaire offer from Arabia (from Al-Ittihad) and said no to some offers from the Premier League, which would have guaranteed him to take over the race. In recent weeks, another highly prestigious possibility has arisen for him: Bayer Leverkusen, in place of Xabi Alonso. The German club is pushing hard to block him immediately, but there is no green light from the Spaniard yet. Julen Lopetegui is waiting, and in Milan there are those who are following him closely, for June.
Obviously it should not be forgotten the suggestion of Conte, probably Ibrahimovic’s favourite, the strong candidacy of Thiago Motta but also the permanence of Pioli himself. A comfortable qualification for the next Champions League, with Milan third alone, 4 points behind second-placed Juve and with 11 points ahead of fifth-placed Roma with 15 games remaining in the championship, and a Europa League as protagonists could push the Rossoneri club to keep the coach also for the 2024-2025 season. They will be decisive months between the field and the bench.
Milan transfer market, all the names on the defense list for June. There is a candidate in pole position
In the meantime, the Rossoneri club is already working on next summer’s transfer market when it will be essential to find at least one top-quality defender to complete the back package (which will probably lose Kjaer to zero). As reported by Gazzetta dello Sport, the name on pole is that of Lacroix, Wolfsburg’s central defender born in 2000 whose contract expires in June 2025 and already sought by the Rossoneri in January.
Precisely the close contractual deadline could allow Furlani and Moncada to obtain advantageous economic conditions. The alternative is represented by Brassier del Brest (15 million euros are needed). Two free transfer opportunities remain of particular interest: Kelly from Bournemouth and Adarabioyo from Fulham. The feeling is that at least one of the two will be at Milanello starting from July.
Milan injured, here’s when Thiaw, Tomori and Kalulu return
In the meantime, Pioli can smile about the return of the injured players. As reported by Gazzetta dello Sport Indeed, the first to return will be Malick Thiaw. The German defender, injured at the end of November in the match against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, has set its sights on the match on February 18th against Monza.
With regard to Tomori e Kalulufor both the finish line is set for the end of February between the return match against Rennes (the 22nd of the current month) or the following one in the league against Atalanta. Milan finally recovers their pieces.