AC Milan’s Striker Transfer Plans Revealed After Niclas Fullkrug Injury
Fullkrug will miss several weeks after suffering a broken toe.
AC Milan will not panic and sign a new striker despite Niclas Fullkrug picking up an injury.
Niclas Fullkrug Suffers Broken Toe In Injury Blow
Signed on loan from Premier League club West Ham this month, Fullkrug suffered a broken toe during the 1-1 draw with Fiorentina on Sunday.
He is expected to be absent for around a month, keeping him out of matches against Como and Lecce.
The experienced frontman was recruited to strengthen Massimiliano Allegri’s strike force, with Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic having been ruled out for periods with their own fitness issues.
There are also major doubts around the future of Santiago Gimenez, who was dogged by an ankle problem before undergoing surgery. He had been expected to leave before being consigned to the treatment table.
While Milan are prioritising a centre-back, sporting director Igli Tare is also keeping his eye on potential strikers.
Milan Set To Sign Andrej Kostic
Partizan Belgrade ace Andrej Kostic is set to arrive at the San Siro regardless.
As reported by FootItalia, Milan have long viewed the talented 18-year-old as a prospect for the future. As a result, they have now moved quickly to fend off fierce competition from other clubs around Europe.
The deal has been moved forward in recent weeks. According to Calciomercato, there has recently been contact between the Rossoneri and Kostic’s agent, Darko Ristic, and the gap in negotiations has narrowed.
Milan’s offer, which is expected to be less than €5million, could be enough to wrap up the deal soon. The plan is for the Montenegrin to play for Milan Futuro, but Allegri will closely monitor his progress.
A rejuvenated Christopher Nkunku will also be able to lead the line, judging by his recent impressive displays.
Signed from Chelsea for €37m, the 28-year-old scored just one goal during a poor start to the season. However, he appears to have now found his feet, having netted twice against Hellas Verona and once against Fiorentina.
Fenerbahce were keen, but Nkunku’s hefty salary and Milan’s desire to recoup their investment derailed the deal.
No New Milan Striker Plans – Yet
The likely arrival of Kostic and Nkunku’s improvement means Milan are unlikely to look for a short-term Fullkrug replacement. Ironically, the German was also viewed as a stopgap option.
Fullkrug’s injury – which is not a complete fracture of the toe – is not deemed enough to justify an unexpected swoop. According to Calciomercato, little activity is expected in January, with a ‘major and decisive’ investment instead planned for next summer. Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic has been heavily linked in recent weeks.
For now, then, Allegri will be tasked with working with the forwards already at the club.
Dan Davis
Dan is an experienced sports journalist and part-time lecturer. An expert on Serie A and Italian football, he has produced content for the likes of the Daily Mail, Reach PLC, GiveMeSport, FourFourTwo and GRV Media. While Channel 4's iconic Football Italia was a bit before his time, the nostalgia - and pastries - fuelled his love of all things Calcio.
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