AC MILAN GIVES OUT THIER MOST TALENTED PLAYER ON LOAN

AC Milan are hoping to collect a decent chunk of money from the sales of some players out on loan which would then go towards funding the signing of a top striker, a report claims.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes this morning, the plans are mostly based around a Bologna winger, a Monza playmaker and an Atalanta striker. More specifically: Alexis Saelemaekers, Daniel Maldini and Charles De Ketelaere, reborn away from San Siro.

The total of their goals is 14 for the season, while the total that they could bring in during the summer window is €40m. The list is longer than those three: excluding Serie C, there are 12 players on loan but owned by Milan.

The Belgians boom
In the space of a year, De Ketelaere went from disappointment to redundancy to ‘frozen’ capital. In the last transfer market signed by Maldini and Massara, the purchase of the Belgian was the most difficult and also the most expensive as they paid €32m having negotiated for weeks.

At Milan CDK seemed like a ghost as Pioli trusted him only to set him aside in yet another disappointing match, then Atalanta and Gian Piero Gasperini arrived and the scenario changed.

With the Bergamo-based club the 23-year-old plays as a striker, as he did at Bruges, and he took off. He has racked up goals, assists and pre-Milan numbers which today mean that he is moving closer towards becoming a permanent Atalanta player.

It is prospect that would make everyone happy, including Milan of course. In August the Rossoneri collected €3m for the paid loan, but if Atalanta decide to buy him, De Ketelaere will bring another €22m plus €4m in bonuses, as well as a percentage on any future resale.

Another €10m could come from Bologna who dream of the Champions League: Saelemaekers played with Milan, with whom he won the 2021-22 Scudetto, and could lend a hand in a tournament where experience makes the difference.

“I had lost the joy, in the last year at Milan I didn’t have much time to play or confidence, here I found my smile again,” said the winger. The feeling is reciprocated by Bologna, and the feeling is they will buy him outright.

From Milan to Monza
Daniel Maldini’s season has a first and a second half. The disappointing start in Empoli ended in January; the second half, in Monza, has a completely different feel because he found playing time and returned to scoring.

He has netted three times in his last four games, convincing coach Palladino and above all CEO Adriano Galliani who said: “I hope Daniel can stay here for life.” In the loan to Empoli there was an option to buy plus a buy-back, but with Monza it is a bit difference.

The decision was made to close a dry loan meaning that at the end of the season Maldini will return to base and Monza will be able to try negotiate his purchase, perhaps through a loan formula with obligation to buy.

The asking price today ranges between €3-5m, but the performances of the Milan Primavera graduate could raise the valuation and perhaps broaden the circle of interested clubs.

Meanwhile, Lorenzp Colombo also plays with Maldini Jr. at Monza and also on a dry loan. However, a return to base in June is the most likely scenario given he has not really kicked on.

The others
There are others out on loan that are also destined to return, from Fode Ballo-Touré and Divock Origi to Marco Pellegrino and Luka Romero.

For the Senegalese full-back and Belgian striker, finding playing time at Fulham and Nottingham Forest proved even more difficult than at Milan.

The sale of Origi would yield €5m, but the Midlands club will not exercise the option. In June the former Liverpool man will look around and a call from MLS could allow Milan to get money from his sale and a capital gain given he came on a free.

It is a different story for Luka Romero, who in January seemed ready to return to Argentina, to Boca Juniors, but in the end he chose Almeria. Romero’s impact in LaLiga was sparkling, with a brace against Atletico.

Milan are observing and waiting for June with confidence: if Luka grows and continues to score, he would return to base as a resource. Having arrived on a free transfer, selling him would guarantee a net capital gain.

The Diavolo could therefore bring in more millions to add to the €40m already mentioned, which would be convenient for signing Viktor Gyokeres, Joshua Zirkzee, Benjamin Sesko or Santiago Gimenez, whoever it might be.