Adriano to Milan in January?

In the news of the last week or so a number of players have been linked to the club. In light of our recent struggles in scoring goals it is no wonder that a number of strikers have been touted to join the club.

Unfortunately none of these strikers really get the heart racing. Luca Toni is one for example. For sure in his prime, very short prime at that, Luca Toni was the best Italian striker going around. Not because he was absolute world class nor for his goalscoring ratio, which was not too impressive, but because there simply was not much competition. But there is a reason why Toni cannot get game time this year at Bayern and it is because he is well and truly past his prime. If a striker cannot get a game for Bayern why would he be any better for AC Milan?

The other striker that has been linked to Milan is former Nerazzurri player, Adriano. At 27 it can be argued that he is at a good age. In fact players generally are expected to peak at 28 so perhaps Adriano could return to Milan and become The Emperor again, this time for the red and black half of Milan. Possible it is yet unlikely. We have seen that when a player loses his touch it is very hard to get back to the top again. Sounds like someone we know, does it not?

Adriano would be a massive gamble and Milan really cannot afford anymore gambles. It is incredible to think that after what we have seen with Ronaldinho, Galliani and co. are still adopting the same transfer strategy. As for Pavlyuchenko, the other striker linked to Milan, well I do not think he is any better than Huntelaar. In fact Huntelaar is probably the better of the two, if only just, so best perhaps to stick with Huntelaar.

In all honesty, I do not think that the teams failure to score has really been down to the strikers. The whole team has performed badly and with the link between our midfield and attack virtually non-existent apart from Pirlo’s lofted balls from deep. It should be an attacking trequartista that the club should be looking for and not another out-and-out striker.

In other news and the loan transfer of Beckham to Milan is faltering over the wage conditions. Milan do not want to pay the 85K euro that LA Galaxy is demanding as they do not want to pay more than 50K euro. With a host of other clubs in Europe looking for Beckham’s signature it may well be that Becks will not return. For a player that paid his way to be at Milan last season it will be disappointing if the club do not offer the money required to bring him over again. Not only did Becks pay his own way but he was a great asset to the side for the two months he played. He scored a couple of goals, got a couple of assists and always behaved like the model professional he is. Lets hope that Galliani does not fail with this one.

Milan’s Braida was in Brazil recently and apart from the Adriano rumour, was also there to continue negotiations for the left back Maldonado. Rafinha of Schalke is another option that has been linked to the club.

While the possible transfer of Rafinha and Maldonado promise much, let us hope that the rumours linking Puyol to Milan are nothing more. It does appear that this transfer is textbook Milan. A player past his prime on the wrong side of thirty and out of contract. So it does fit well with our transfer policy but I still hope that this will pass. Puyol is not a solution to our full back problems so we do not need him.

Milan’s transfer policy unfortunately seems more of the same despite I need for talented young players.

The news on Leonardo is that he has to win the next two games to keep his job. If this report is true, then perhaps he should quit now. Milan have to face Roma at home before travelling to the Spanish capital to play Real Madrid. As a Milan fan, I always believe that we can win. But, these will be two very difficult tasks and I am sceptical of Leo’s capabilities as a coach. The next two games will shed much light as to whether he has what it takes.

In good news, Ronaldo is injured whilst Ronaldinho’s thirst for success is apparently back following his vital strike against Atalanta. He is at training before the rest of the side and vows to get back to his best again. Lets hope, wait and see.