Five players who could join AC Milan this summer

AC Milan are set for a big summer.

Veteran striker Olivier Giroud is heading to Major League Soccer and will need replacing. Signing a new, top-class number nine has been on the Rossoneri’s agenda since 2023 and it is expected that they will splash the cash this time around despite their limited funds.

But it’s not only at centre-forward where Stefano Pioli’s side want to strengthen after a disappointing season. Centre-back is another position of need, while there could also be a midfield reinforcement heading to the San Siro.

Here are five players AC Milan could sign this summer…

READ MORE: Five players who could join Real Madrid this summer

Joshua Zirkzee (Bologna)

Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee is one of Serie A’s breakout stars of the 2023/24 season. The former Dutch wonderkid has been on fire for Thiago Motta’s surprise packages and played a crucial role in Bologna enjoying a historic campaign.

If Italian media is to be believed, the former Bayern Munich man is one of the top targets to replace Giroud in Milan, but getting him won’t be easy. In addition to a hefty price tag, Zirkzee also has Premier League admirers, with the likes of Arsenal and Man Utd linked.

READ MORE: Five players who could join Barcelona this summer

Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig)

RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko is in a similar boat as Zirkzee. The youngster has enjoyed a decent season and this has put him on the radar of the Rossoneri but also of elite Premier League clubs. Sesko will be available for €50 million this summer due to a release clause in his deal.

Milan, however, haven’t just stumbled across the Slovenian for the first time this year. On the contrary, they are long-time admirers and Sesko’s agent previously admitted that the Serie A giants could be a good option for his client. “I can confirm that in the past when [Paolo] Maldini was there, I already spoke with Milan about Sesko.”

“But at that moment, the transfer was not possible, it wasn’t the right time. In the future, you never know. Milan is a great club. At the moment, Sesko feels very good at Leipzig where he is continuing his growth path.”

Santiago Gimenez (Feyenoord)

The third possible number nine option for Milan is Mexican sharpshooter Santiago Gimenez. Though the Feyenoord forward tailed off after a red-hot start, he remains one of the Eredivisie’s most sought after commodities and has admirers in England, chief among them at Tottenham.

It is a distinct possibility that Gimenez will leave Rotterdam this summer and Milan are expected to be right at the front of the queue, though whether they will be able to afford him is a different question. Napoli have recently also been linked as they reportedly view him as a replacement for Victor Osimhen.

Assan Ouedraogo (Schalke 04)

A player who will almost definitely be on the move this summer is Schalke wonderkid Assan Ouedraogo. The German U17 World Cup winner has already outgrown the struggling second-tier side and has been linked with a move to Lombardy since late 2023.

However, Germany’s elite and some Premier League sides are also circling around the midfield sensation, who got his first taste of senior football in 2023/24. The teenager won’t be too expensive and could be a very shrewd acquisition by Milan if they can beat the big-name competition.

Maxence Lacroix (Wolfsburg)

Finally, Milan are in the market for a centre-back. Fikayo Tomori is facing something of an uncertain future and could reportedly be sold to raise funds for arrivals. One viable alternative would be Maxence Lacroix.

The Wolfsburg defender has found his form again after a poor 2022/23 season and is expected to leave the Bundesliga as his contract is up in 2025. On his day, the Frenchman has the ability to be a very good defender and he could be an adequate replacement for Tomori. Arsenal’s Jakub Kiwior has also been linked with the Rossoneri as a potential option for that position.