The scouting department has a repeat addiction

AC Milan is reportedly pivoting toward Bologna’s rising star, linked with a 30 million euro price tag, to bolster an attack that has looked stagnant since the winter break. It is a classic move from the Rossoneri playbook: target a proven Serie A quantity rather than taking a calculated risk on a high-ceiling external prospect. But throwing €30m at a single forward feels like a desperate plug for a leaking hull when the defensive structure remains fundamentally porous.

The club is also chasing teenage winger Dino Alajbegovic from Bayer Leverkusen. While scouting talent under the radar is admirable, they are currently butting heads with the German champions on multiple fronts. Early reports from MilanNews suggest interest is widespread, but relying on poaching players from Leverkusen’s academy isn't a long-term plan for winning the Scudetto. Bologna is a solid landing spot for growth, but Milan needs finished products who can facilitate a tactical shift, not another development project.

The Rabiot lesson remains unlearned

The recent fallout regarding Adrien Rabiot highlights a systemic failure in the recruitment chain. Chasing name-brand free agents or high-profile midfielders who don't fit the wage structure led to a public relations mess that disrupted the locker room rhythm more than any tactical error on the pitch. When you miss on primary targets, you end up overpaying for lateral moves that rarely elevate the baseline performance.

If the plan is to prioritize domestic competition over building an actual scouting network in South America or Eastern Europe, the ceiling is firmly capped at fourth place. CorSport has noted the intense pressure from rivals like Roma to sign youth prospects, which only inflates the cost of doing business. Milan is playing a game of chicken in the transfer market while their rivals are playing chess.

Prediction: A summer of stagnation

I don't see a breakthrough here. Targeting players like the Bologna prospect suggests the board is prioritizing quantity of talent over tactical fit. Unless Milan cleans up their defensive transition play, spending millions on attackers who lack elite-level pressing intelligence will result in the same outcome: early exits in Europe and a frustrating 0-0 draw against mid-table opposition in November.

The move for Alajbegovic is a nice sentiment for the future, but it won't help the squad in the immediate 2026/27 campaign. Expect a window where high-profile exits are replaced by three players who look good on a spreadsheet but struggle to synchronize with the existing unit. They are building for 2028 when the fanbase wants silverware by May 2027.