Since AC Milan won their 18th Serie A title in 2011, they have been through some very tough times. Known for teams packed with household names for over 20 years, the Rossoneri have fallen far from their perch and can only be described as a sleeping giant these days.Some of the best times in their history came under the stewardship of controversial former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who bought the club in the 1980s. Milan became a powerhouse; the last team to win back-to-back European Cups, in 1989 and 1990. Arrigo Sacchi, Fabio Capello and Carlo Ancelotti were particularly successful in the managerial hotseat.The elite became synonymous with Milan. Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini and Andriy Shevchenko were just three of a plethora to earn legendary status at the club. While the likes of Kaka, David Beckham and Ronaldinho all donned the famous red and black in the Berlusconi era.But when the core of that title-winning side, notably Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and Andrea Pirlo, departed, the wheels soon came off. Milan haven’t played in the Champions League since 2014, and the lack of money and success saw fans turn on the board, who sold the club to a Chinese consortium in a €740million deal recently.The takeover has bred hope of a Milan revival, with a core of talented young players, notably Gianluigi Donnarumma and Alessio Romagnoli, at the club and heavy investment expected. Here are five big-name players the owners could look to sign this summer.
#1 Alexandre Lacazette (Olympique Lyonnais)
French striker Lacazette is one of the hottest properties in Europe, due to his goalscoring exploits at Lyon over the last couple of seasons. The 25-year-old has scored 22 goals in 26 Ligue 1 games this term and four in six in the Europa League, a competition he still hopes to win with Lyon come May.He is one of those players constantly linked with a move, and having previously stressed his commitment to his current employers, there are signs that he is preparing to take the next step in his career. Strangely, though, he still struggles to make an impact in Didier Deschamps’s France squad, despite Karim Benzema’s continued omission.Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are said to be monitoring his situation at Lyon, and he would cost in excess of £40million, but Milan could really make a statement by challenging the Premier League riches and luring him to the San Siro.
#2 James Rodriguez (Real Madrid)
Signing for Real Madrid off the back of a sublime World Cup performance with Colombia was supposed to be the making of James Rodriguez. For a while it appeared to be, but his career has stalled in the last two years.Los Blancos paid Monaco £73million, and his debut season saw him become a regular first team fixture under Carlo Ancelotti. But the Italian’s sacking in 2015, having failed to win a trophy the previous season, was catastrophic for James.Ancelotti’s replacement, Rafa Benitez, didn’t rate him, most likely because of his work rate, and things have barely improved under Zinedine Zidane either. Three goals in his last two games, including one in El Clasico, shows what he can do, but there is a real feeling that he needs to leave the club to get his career back on track.The Spanish giants will aim to recoup as much money as possible on the 25-year-old, and there will undoubtedly be suitors, but James is definitely the calibre of player the new owners will desire.
#3 Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
If Milan are going to sign a world-renowned star this summer, they may not get a better chance than with Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean’s contract with Arsenal expires in 2018 and talks over a new deal have been delayed until the end of the current campaign. Fans are understandably nervy, something many clubs will be looking to exploit, and Milan should be one of them.Sanchez has scored 19 Premier League goals and has carried the Gunners at times this season. Arsene Wenger’s men are struggling to maintain their impressive record of qualification in every year of his 21-year tenure, although they have reached yet another FA Cup final, courtesy of an extra-time Sanchez goal against Manchester City.The 28-year-old has played in Italy before, for Udinese, and while he is at the peak of his career and may want to join a club more likely to have immediate success, his signing would prove Milan are intent on a return to the top.
#4 Andrea Belotti (Torino)
Not many outside of Italy were aware of 23-year-old Andrea Belotti before this season, but he is up there with the most wanted men in Europe this summer. His development at Torino, who are only 9th in Serie A, has been of huge benefit to the Italian national team, who have been lacking a top quality striker for quite some time.Belotti has shot to the top of the goalscoring charts with 25, so it is no surprise that all of the top clubs are chasing him. Traditionally, Italy’s finest have stayed at home, and he still has room for improvement.Torino are going to drive a hard bargain for Belotti, who has not made too many noises about wanting to leave the club. Reports suggest he has a £84 million buyout clause in his contract, so bringing him in could be a real challenge for anyone. But the days of financial weakness appear to be over for Milan, and signing Italy’s brightest talent would be a great way to show it.
#5 Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain)
Very few players in Europe right now are as coveted as PSG star Verratti. The 24-year-old is quite unique, s a possession-based midfielder with more time to develop in front of him. Calling the position a dying breed would be a complete overstatement, but the two best at the role in the game are probably Andres Iniesta and Luka Modric, who are 32 and 31 respectively.It is no surprise, then, that Verratti has long been linked with a move to Barcelona or Real Madrid. The ex-Pescara youngster has reaffirmed his desire to stay in France for the time being, but he is not too shy to admit he has thought about a return to Italy in the past.Like Belotti, he is at an age where he could grow alongside the Chinese project at Milan. Signing him, or even both, could mean the Rossoneri have the spine of the Italy squad for the next five years or so. Romagnoli and Donnarumma are still going strong, although teenager Manuel Locatelli’s presence could render the need for Verratti at Milan obsolete.Also Read: 5 reasons why Milan can become a superpower again
