Defensive reinforcements are still required at AC Milan this offseason

With AC Milan announcing the signings of forwards Carlos Bacca and Luiz Adriano for a combined total of €38 million in the past 48 hours, the acquisition of defensive reinforcements remains the fundamental area the Rossoneri must address if they are to surge up the table next season.

AC Milan, a club once synonymous with producing and boasting world class centre-backs is unfortunately now suffering, the current backline resembling a sheet of thin ice at times. Indeed, the likes of Franco Baresi, Paolo Malidini, Alessandro Nesta and Thiago Silva all donned the famous red and black strip at some stage in their respective careers – and in the unique circumstances of Baresi and Maldini – the entirety of their footballing journey.

However, in recent seasons, to say the heart of defence has been somewhat of a calamity would be a complete understatement. A lack of patience in nurturing and developing youth players by previous coaches, as well as financial constraints on the San Siro outfit has no doubt contributed to the Diavolo’s inability to settle on a stable centre-back pairing. Former boss Filippo Inzaghi struggled to find consistency in this particular area of his starting XI, constantly chopping and changing between Adil Rami, Gabriel Paletta, Alex, Philippe Mexes and Cristian Zapata.

Perhaps the trials and tribulations Inzaghi faced in trying to find the right partnership and balance in central-defence was due to the indistinguishable attribute of quality. Out of the current crop of centre-backs Milan possess, not one is a clear standout and that has been a major problem in preventing the lapses of concentration at the back. Sure, players like Rami, Zapata and Mexes are more than adequate squad players for the Rossoneri, but none are competent of commanding starting roles – especially not by the form each have showed. Harsh? Maybe. But the reality is, the absence of proficient central defenders has coincided with Milan’s decline.

As a result, the time has come for Milan to get serious in the current transfer window and procure at least two centre-backs to curtail the concession of goals. The Rossoneri last campaign, yielded 50 league goals which is simply embarrassing for a club of Milan’s stature.

Passionate fans of the team have been crying out for the club hierarchy to purchase a first-rate stopper since the departures of Nesta and Silva back in 2012, but those calls have fallen on deaf ears. With the scarce money the side did have before the recent investment by Thai businessman Bee Taechaubol, outlay was still being poured on the attack rather than where it was needed most – in defence. Mario Balotelli was acquired in January 2013 for a sum around €20 million and six months later €11 million was irresponsibly spent on forward Alessandro Matri.

A virtually identical transfer policy can be said about this summer. So far the Diavolo’s expenditure has seen the arrival of three new faces – excluding loan returns – and none of which are defenders. Of course, these include Sevilla goal-machine Carlos Bacca for a fee of €30 million, subject to a medical, Brazilian striker Luiz Adriano from Ukrainian powerhouse Shakhtar Donetsk (€8 million) and Roma midfielder Andrea Bertolacci (€20 million).

Although, the difference in this instance is that all three players are necessary and shrewd purchases compared to their predecessors, considering the Diavolo scored just 56 goals in Serie A last year. Nevertheless, there still remains a sense of reluctance on spending big at the back, which is a cause for concern. However, the comforting news is that the transfer window is in its infancy, meaning vice-president Adriano Galliani still has ample time to identify and pursue two central-defenders by the end of August.

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After the millions expended on attacking players this window, it is essential the once Italian giants turn its attention to buying some defenders, now with Rami departing for Sevilla too. Speculation has linked the club with talented Giallorossi youngster Alessio Romagnoli and Athletic Bilbao prodigy Aymeric Laporte. The former would be an ideal fit, as the 20-year-old centre-half illustrated composure beyond his years while on-loan with Sampdoria and incidentally played under present Rossoneri manager Sinisa Mihajlovic last season.

Romagnoli would also be a cheaper alternative than Laporte with the Italian valued in the region of €14 million. Laporte on the other hand has also excelled with the Basque outfit, especially under boss Ernesto Valverde. However, Milan are rumoured to have balked at the 21-year-old’s release clause of €50 million.

As the proverbial saying goes, only time will tell if the Rossoneri sign at the very least one promising centre-back. Milan must loosen its purse strings for the defence, if Mihajlovic’s men are to mount a genuine challenge in returning to the top three of Italian football.

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