Milan Shortlist Coveted Duo to Address Left-Back Role | OneFootball

Milan have laid eyes on Maxim De Cuyper and Nuno Tavares to potentially replace Theo Hernandez, whom they’ll seek to sell in the summer. Some within the club fear he might stay even without an extension and leave on a free in 2026, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs (via Mediaset).

The Rossoneri have scouted the Belgian youngster throughout the campaign. He played a role in eliminating Atalanta from the Champions League playoff. The 24-year-old doesn’t have the same burst as the Frenchman, but he’s a fine assist man. He has tallied 5 this campaign and 20 in 97 games with Club Brugge. He has appeared six times with Belgium, scoring once.

Milan would have to beat the competition and spend around €20M for De Cuyper, while Nuno Tavares has a higher price tag. Lazio are in no rush to sell him. Moreover, they’ll owe part of the fee to Arsenal, so their demands are hefty.

The Portuguese international has slowed down after a scintillating start, also due to a pair of injuries, but he remains one of the most productive Serie A fullbacks having provided eight helpers already.

Our Take on Milan, Theo Hernandez, De Cuyper, and Nuno Tavares

Their star departing gratis is a non-starter and not only because he’d be even more disengaged in the final year of his contract. They are eyeing fine contributors but should consider going for a defensive-minded option, tweaking the geography of their team, and making it easier to field four attackers together. That also hinges on whether they’ll be able to keep Joao Felix and who their coach will be, though.