Milan, revolution in midfield: Fofana and Loftus-Cheek transferable

Goretzka, Javi Guerra, Koné. They are the ones in the crosshairs. And then Modric who perhaps remains, Rabiot the essential, Ricci and Jashari two prospects who must be valorised. It has been clear for some time that summer traffic would be quite heavy in the median but, even if next season the squad will have to be numerically reinforced, some seats will need to be freed up. Both from those who are already there and from those who will return to base from various loans and will not be kept at Milanello by Allegri.

double phase

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The two main names on the transferable list are those of Fofana and Loftus-Cheek. They have the role in common – right midfielder – and nothing more. They are technically and tactically different players, they have different salaries, they have different contractual deadlines (2028 the French, 2027 the English). And both are expendable. Fofana actually occupied an important position this year. In the sense that, basically, he was the starter on Modric’s right: 32 appearances of the season, of which 26 from the start, for a total of 2,145 minutes (the eighth of the squad in terms of use). He alternated valuable plays (visionary assists) with sensational errors, he is a player who sacrifices himself in two phases but the management’s intention is to further raise the level of the midfield. Without considering that the Frenchman, in an interview a few weeks ago with L’Equipe, had expressed several doubts about the role assigned by Allegri this year, explaining that the different deliveries compared to last year could have had a negative impact on a national level. However, Fofana has just had a more than sufficient season, his salary is not excessive (3 net) and therefore he should not have any particular problems in finding a suitable destination.

competition

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In terms of salary, however, the situation of Loftus-Cheek is a little more complex, as he earns 4 million and comes from a season in which he almost never managed to convince Allegri. Unlike the last time, marked by repeated physical problems that practically never allowed him to get into shape, this time it is mostly a matter of technical choices, even if the month of March was burdened by the jaw injury. The minutes put together are 1,369, fifteen appearances as a starter out of a total of 29 and, along the way, a progressive set aside by Allegri, who preferred Ricci over him when it was necessary to replace Fofana. The sale of Loftus to Milan, one year before the deadline, is useful above all to save an expensive salary, which is not reflected in employment. He arrived in 2023 for 16 million from Chelsea, Milan will not make any particular demands on the price tag. Finally, the returns from loans. Bennacer, Musah and Bondo will return to Milanello in midfield. Pleasant destinations will be sought for all three (the Algerian is a “prisoner” of his 4 million salary much more than Loftus-Cheek), the only one who theoretically could have some cards to play in the summer to convince Allegri is Musah.