Quote:Berlusconi's gifts
Ganso or Lamela for AC Milan
Bruno (Feyenoord) another target. In midfield the arrivals will depend on the outcome of the veterans' contract renewals. Marchetti and Lazzarri possible Italian reinforcements



MILAN, 4 May 2011 – So Silvio Berlusconi has promised he'll make some expensive gifts? Now it's up to Adriano Galliani to go out and do the shopping, as always. And yesterday morning at the Lega Calcio offices, the Rossoneri vice-president reiterated the club's intention to "try and rule Europe again". So you can be sure the club's transfer dealings will feature prominently on the front pages of the sports papers this summer. It won't be Cristiano Ronaldo - Berlusconi has put the brakes on that story himself, having previously expressed the desire to see the Portuguese in a red-and-black shirt - but they won't be aiming much lower either.


TARGETS — The name at the top of the list is Paulo Henrique Ganso. On Twitter Pato has already said his compatriot has a "Milanese future". About which Galliani joked: "I hope it's just a language problem and he meant an AC Milan future. Perhaps he knows something I don't." Regardless of the denials, the Santos attacking midfielder is clearly swimming very close to AC Milan waters, though his current club are complicating the task of reeling him in by insisting on the exorbitant €50 million release clause being met. Which is why his arrival is by no means a done deal.

the alternative — The Argentinian alternative remains Erik Lamela, River Plate's 19-year-old star who comes equipped with a ready-made Italian passport. The transfer fee would likely be around €15 million but other Italian clubs are tracking him as well. AC Milan are keeping close tabs until the Ganso picture is clearer.

BRAZIL, BRAZIL — Galliani has admitted he likes the look of Maicon's heir, Danilo, who is also at Santos but whom Inter, too, have set their eyes on. He doesn’t have a European passport, mind, and neither does the Porto striker Hulk, another possible candidate. In the meantime, AC Milan have been busy working on their Bosmans: Mexes has been snapped up on a four-year deal while Taiwo has signed a three-year contract.



ITALIANS — Closer to home, completing the deals with Genoa for Boateng and Amelia should be a formality, while the Rossoneri are also closing in on two of Max Allegri's favourites: Galliani knows the price for Marchetti is €5.3 million and that Cagliari are prepared to sell half of Lazzari's rights. Signing the left-footed playmaker could be a solution should Ganso's arrival be delayed until January.

TRIMMING — The squad could certainly do with a bit of a trim. "Because of the injuries," noted Galliani, "we now have 31 first-team players. We'll have to get that back down to 25 or 26." Some of their youngsters will be sent out on loan: Strasser, Merkel, Beretta and Oduamadi need to get games under their belts and gain experience. And even Didac Vilà may be moved on, because the Rossoneri have another Dutch talent in their sights: his name is Bruno Indi, he's 19 years old and he has taken the Eredivisie by storm alongside a lad named Luc Castaignos, whom Inter have already grabbed. Bruno could also be lured away for a decent price...

GOODBYES — Some of the veterans are destined for departure, but nothing will only be announced until the Scudetto is in the bag, so for now we're still talking about guesswork. Ambrosini, Pirlo and Seedorf are patiently awaiting a phone call and if just one of the three fails to agree a new deal, Galliani will have to move for a replacement. The annual wage bill of €180 million needs to be kept in check, and the more Galliani saves on wages the more he has to spend on new signings. But for the time being his work is top secret.
Carlo Laudisa

(05-04-2011, 05:42 PM)abbeyleemania Wrote: For midfield, we need experienced and defensively solid version of Merkel... 2 way midfielder who can work box to box, who can press and can keep the ball under press... Plus its great if he can win games alone like Seedorf did...

i hope Allegri works on Merkel's defensive game...

(05-04-2011, 08:00 PM)abbeyleemania Wrote: i just read that Berlu said that he deserves a stadium to his name...actually i was thinking about the same 2-3 days ago...
My stadium name was Berlusconi Arena...

Regarding Merkel, he has all tools to become a complete world class midfielders for us... Defensive game...i mean he should be solid defensively on 1 on 1's. Merkel suits to LCM more than Flamini or Emanuelson...

Hope to see Allegri focus on Merkel more during summer camp...

i watched one of the last Primavera games and however Fossati impressed me a lot... He is called as new Pirlo but he is different from Pirlo, as he has a good pace and drive with the ball up more and stronger defensively... He is more Xavi than Pirlo if you ask me...Then Berretta... i dont know Ely much... i dont rate Strasser much...i dont rate Oudamadi much as well...

But yet Fossati and Berretta looks promising...

(05-04-2011, 09:10 PM)WCmilan Wrote: and wtff, we've already signed mexes and taiwo?