GdS: ‘Who is Milan-worthy?’ – the players expected to stay and leave in summer overhaul | OneFootball

Pending the choice of the new sporting director and the new coach, the AC Milan management are already making assessments on some squad members.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes this morning, everyone at Milan is partly focused on the end of the current season with the dual objective of earning a place in a European competition for next season and lifting the Coppa Italia.

The last seven (or eight) games of 2024-25, however, will have to further clarify ideas on which elements of the squad are Milan-worthy. The new director and coach will bring their ideas on those who should stay and go, but that doesn’t mean some verdicts cannot already be made.

Those to build around

The starting point for next season is solid, more than the current ninth place in the standings would suggest. Christian Pulisic with his 15 goals and Tijjani Reijnders with 14 have been locked down with a renewal (the American’s has yet to be made official) and are considered unsellable.

Rafael Leao, who until two months ago was in the balance due to too many ups and downs, has changed gear and has made it clear that he has grown above all on a mental level. He is in double figures for goals and assists.

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The club will only let him go for a significant offer, certainly lower than his release clause (€175m), but certainly not at a bargain price. Translated: no less than €100m. In addition, Rafa’s desire is to continue wearing the Milan shirt, perhaps together with the captain’s armband.

Youssouf Fofana has shown positive signs in his first season in terms of distance covered, balls recovered and assists (eight). Strahinja Pavlovic is also one of the summer signings that will definitely remain.

Matteo Gabbia will not leave either, and will be part of the Italian group that the directors want to build. For Alex Jimenez the desire is to start a negotiation to avoid Real Madrid buying him back, then Warren Bondo and Kyle Walker are likely to remain.

In doubt

It is mandatory to start with captain Mike Maignan, who had a decline in performance at the beginning of 2025 and made some serious mistakes, like in the Champions League vs. Feyenoord. He has not yet renewed, and if he doesn’t before the summer it is more likely he goes than stays.

For Tammy Abraham, who has 10 goals (only three in the league), the discussion is linked to his performance in this final part and the requests of Roma. The position of the Englishman will be discussed together with that of Alexis Saelemaekers, on loan in the capital.

Milan will not give up on Santiago Gimenez after the €28.5m investment, but the Mexican will have to give some signals in the last month and a half. Malick Thiaw has alternated good performances with a few too many own-goals, literally and figuratively, while Luka Jovic ‘woke up a little late’.

On the way out

Joao Felix will not be permanently signed after a disappointing loan spell, having arrived from Chelsea during the winter transfer window. Offers will be evaluated for Theo Hernandez, whose contract expires in 2026, despite him wanting to stay.

Fikayo Tomori, Yunus Musah and Emerson Royal have their suitcases packed too, but they will not be sold off at a discount price. There is the feeling that Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Samuel Chukwueze could move on too.

The idea of buying Riccardo Sottil remains complicated given that he has not shown much, while Alessandro Florenzi (whose contract expires) and Filippo Terracciano could depart too.