Why AC Milan’s Stuttering Attack May Prove Untenable as the Title Race Unravels

AC Milan missed the opportunity to move a point clear of neighbours Inter on matchday 15. 

Once again the Rossoneri were undone by a newly-promoted side, as Sassuolo extended Milan’s winless record against Serie A newcomers at home this season.

Davide Bartesaghi’s two-goal heroics were enough to ensure they remained within reach of Inter heading into matchday 16, but reliance on a left-back for goals was another worrying sign.

Granted Christian Pulisic continues to extend his impressive goals-to-game ratio this season, and was unfortunate not to finish the gameweek top of the league scoring charts after referees admitted his goal was wrongly disallowed against Sassuolo.

Rafael Leao has also chipped in with a respectable five goals from left-wing, but Milan are lacking a spearhead and dependency on their more creative players may only get them so far.

AC Milan’s Striker Problems Are Cause For Concern

Beyond Pulisic and Leao, Milan’s next-highest scorers are all defenders. 

While they have been buoyed by the whole team shouldering the goalscoring responsibility, fears around the lack of a recognized striker are growing as the season wears on.

This is particularly pertinent at a time when their closest title rivals, Inter, boast Serie A’s top scorer Lautaro Martinez, as well as Marcus Thurham and Ange-Yoan Bonny – both of whom have four goals of their own.

That trio makes for considerable depth in attack, and their notable individual performances so far each act as their own safety net, if one should pick up an injury.

As for Milan, Santiago Gimenez will now require surgery on a persistent ankle injury that may keep him out for the remainder of the season.

The Mexican international, who faces a race against time to make the World Cup, didn’t manage a goal in his nine appearances this season, and even his return of five last season was well below the club’s expectations.

Summer signing Christopher Nkunku has demonstrable pedigree in previous seasons with RB Leipzig, but he has struggled to make any real impact beyond two assists.

Zero goals in 11 appearances has clearly hampered his confidence, with manager Max Allegri recently urging him to “smile more.”

Much like Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, Allegri has run into the same problem of being unable to find a position for Nkunku. 

Despite consecutive 20-plus goal seasons in Germany, both Maresca and Allegri clearly see the 27-year-old as a ‘second striker’ who can support a more traditional forward.

With the Frenchman unable to tap into form of years gone by, he has been dropped in favor of more effective players in those positions, such as Cole Palmer.

A player of his unique talents is certainly able to take up that mantle, but he has been decidedly ineffective in front of goal with 0.34 xG per 90.

AC Milan Targeting Niclas Fullkrug

While the arrival of Max Allegri has signalled a vast improvement on last season, Milan are still competing on several fronts with a relatively shallow attacking pool.

An injury to Christian Pulisic, which history has shown is more than likely, or to Leao would instantly remove a huge chunk of their goals from the starting line-up.

The club are actively moving to strengthen in January and reinforce their ambitions for silverware, with Milan closing in on a loan for Niclas Fullkrug.

🚨🔴⚫️ AC Milan are working on new striker for January window regardless of what’s gonna happen with Santi Giménez.

Talks ongoing with Niklas Füllkrug’s camp as target, as reported in the recent weeks and days.

🎥🇮🇹 https://t.co/md6pbSt59D pic.twitter.com/BMTdFjFYJx

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 15, 2025

January is, of course, a notoriously difficult month to pull off any major coups, particularly in a market where the few prolific strikers that exist come at a premium.

Fullkrug, much like Nkunku, has genuine pedigree having registered two 20-plus goal seasons – sounding familiar?

He too has struggled to assert himself in the Premier League since, scoring just three goals in 26 appearances.

The German is almost certainly not the hit-the-ground-running forward they need mid-way through the season, and is nothing more than a stop-gap at 32-years-old.

Fullkrug’s arrival would indeed be just that, until such time Milan can move for the primary target – Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic – who is more likely to leave at the end of the season.

Interest has also been expressed in Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee, who has had fleeting moments of brilliance in the Premier League, but often few and far between.

Whether any of these players can fill the void effectively remains to be seen. 

For now, Milan are making considerable strides towards the Scudetto, albeit with their sources of goals stretched thin, but whether this strategy is sustainable is another question.