The scouting department has stalled

Watching AC Milan’s transfer activity this week, I am struck by a sense of recurring déjà vu. Reports from Tuttosport regarding Nicolò Zaniolo suggest the club is once again chasing a name that fits a historical narrative rather than a tactical gap. Bringing back a player of Zaniolo’s profile, after his recent career trajectory, reeks of a lack of a coherent long-term strategy.

The defensive stability of this side is questionable, yet they are prioritizing high-profile attacking names. The obsession with shiny objects doesn't fix the lack of depth behind the starting front three. You don't build a Champions League contender by recycling talent that has proven inconsistent in high-pressure environments.

Tactical drift in the market

The links to Bernardo Silva are even more confusing. While he is a world-class operator, the logistics mentioned by Fabrizio Romano underline a disconnect between Milan’s financial realities and their scouting targets. Chasing a Manchester City star who has competing interest from Barcelona is a fool’s errand when the squad lacks a functioning second striker who can reliably score double-digit goals.

Consider the recent interest in RB Salzburg talent, despite clear buy-back hurdles noted by recent reporting from Tuttosport. Investing time and scout budget into a prospect that another club holds the keys to is inefficient. There are dozens of young strikers in lower-tier European leagues that don't come attached to a complicated buy-back clause tethered to Bayer Leverkusen.

A glaring flaw in team philosophy

The real issue isn't the talent pool—it is the decision-making process. Milan is consistently attempting to punch above its weight in a transfer market where, frankly, it no longer has the capital to dominate. They are currently 8 points off the pace required for a comfortable domestic finish, yet the rhetoric focuses on blockbuster arrivals that solve nothing regarding defensive transition speed or mid-block organization.

When the management ignores the midfield pivot position to pursue wingers or fancy forwards, the team suffers on the pitch. My prediction? The hierarchy will fail to land a marquee signing, pivot to a third-choice target by June, and spend a significant €25 million on a player who won't elevate their pressing metrics. This squad needs identity before it needs more names. Without a clear plan, expect another season of hovering around the top four without ever threatening the league leaders.