Milan’s summer work has left the squad with areas still to address, and the centre of the defence could become the principal issue when the January window arrives. Ruben Amorim is expected to seek a player better suited than Koni De Winter and Matteo Gabbia to organising the back three in line with his requirements, while the club’s hierarchy is setting a high threshold for any move.
A January decision for Milan’s defensive line
Gerry Cardinale’s position is that Milan should not settle for a short-term compromise. Any incoming player would need either established European standing or the clear profile of a leading prospect, rather than simply filling a vacancy for six months.
That creates an obvious complication in January, when important players are seldom released easily. Milan may therefore have to examine opportunities created by a change in circumstances elsewhere, particularly among defenders whose role at their present club is no longer secure.
- Amorim would like greater suitability at the heart of his three-man defence.
- De Winter and Gabbia remain options, but Milan are considering a more specialised addition.
- The club intends to pursue quality rather than a lower-status stopgap.
- Mid-season negotiations could make availability as important as technical preference.
Kim Min-jae’s Bayern future could shape the market
Kim Min-jae is one of the names Milan are monitoring. The South Korean defender is under contract at Bayern Munich until 2028, but he has not become an undisputed first-choice player under Vincent Kompany. He has featured, including from the opening whistle, though without the regular run that could be available in Milan.
Bayern plan discussions with the 1999-born defender to clarify Kompany’s plans. Those talks may prove decisive after three difficult years in Germany. If Kim concludes that he is no longer central to Bayern’s project, he could become more receptive to a new challenge.
Milan have explored the possibility in each of the previous two transfer windows, only to find Kim determined to continue his attempt to establish himself in Munich. The next conversation between player, coach and club may alter that position.
There would not be a clear path for the Rossoneri. Aston Villa are also interested as they look to reinforce after Ezri Konsa’s summer departure, while Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham remain active in the search for further market options.
The financial question behind a possible deal
Kim’s transfer fee is considered manageable by elite-market standards, at around €25 million. His salary would present the more difficult calculation for a Serie A club: he currently earns approximately €7 million net per season.
Milan’s assessment will depend on whether Bayern and the player open the door, but also on whether a financial structure can be found within the limits of Italian football. In that respect, Kim may be more attainable than other targets only if his standing in Munich changes.
Inacio and Tiago Gabriel remain alternative routes
Kim would bring experience and immediate reliability to Amorim’s group, but Milan have younger candidates under consideration. Both would require difficult negotiations because Sporting Lisbon and Lecce regard their defenders as significant members of their squads.
- Gonçalo Inácio: The Sporting Lisbon and Portugal defender is highly rated by Amorim. His estimated price is around €40 million.
- Tiago Gabriel: Lecce’s 2004-born centre-back is valued at roughly €25 million.
Neither Sporting nor Lecce are likely to welcome the loss of an important defender halfway through the campaign. That is why Kim’s situation at Bayern could offer Milan a different kind of opening, with Kompany’s judgement and the Bavarian club’s subsequent decision likely to determine whether the January market develops into a genuine opportunity.
