AC Milan’s 2022 summer transfer window continues to come under scrutiny as some signings continue to struggle making an impact.
Calciomercato.com begin a report by talking about Milan’s project which accounts for a gradual climb for the young talents they invest in, as seen with Theo Hernandez, Pierre Kalulu, Sandro Tonali, Ismael Bennacer, Rafael Leao and others.
The Rossoneri management decided to spend €35m on Charles De Ketelaere over the summer and after a start that had let us glimpse the flashes of his potential, he has struggled in recent weeks and has not started any of the last five games.
Looking at the other additions, Malick Thiaw has benefitted from ‘months of apprenticeship’ under Simon Kjaer and he should make his second start against Fiorentina this evening. Maldini and Massara paid €7m to sign him from Schalke, and it seems Pioli is trusting him more and more.
After the links with Renato Sanches, Carney Chukwuemeka and Raphael Onyedika it was Aster Vranckx who arrived on loan from Wolfsburg with an option to buy to bolster the midfield. He has not been seen much, but Pioli is content: “I am very happy with how Vranckx is working: he made the most of this period of adaptation in which he played little and trained well. I am sure he will also need the break. I am sure of his qualities and he will be useful to us.”
Then the discussion turns to Sergino Dest and Yacine Adli. The USA international was not helped in his adaptation by the physical problems that limited him in the last few weeks, when the simultaneous absence of Calabria and Florenzi opened an opportunity, but the recent muscular problems also came after a series of not entirely convincing performances.
For Adli meanwhile, an exit on loan appears to be the obligatory solution for the Frenchman who arrived from Bordeaux and has ‘disappeared from radar’. Having done all the pre-season retreat and having impressed in friendlies, Pioli does not consider him ready to enter the rotations.
