The first half of this season will be crucial for Milan. The club has every intention of retaining the Scudetto while an improved run in the Champions League is greatly desired too. To be successful on both fronts, ensuring qualification to the knockout round in Europe needs to be achieved before Christmas in addition to the team establishing itself at the top of the table or thereabouts.

This is particularly necessary this season because two of Milan’s main contenders for the title will be focusing solely on the Serie A. Juventus are one and Roma too – after they were surprisingly eliminated by mighty Slovan Bratislava before the Europa League even kicked off proper.

Both these clubs will benefit in their attempts for domestic supremacy from the commitments that Milan and Inter will presumably still have in the Champions League come the New Year.

Napoli, at best, may still be participating in European competition, but, more than likely in the Europa League. Given their lack of European pedigree, the undeniable lack of strength of Italian sides in Europe today and the extremely tough draw they have been given (Villareal, Manchester City and Bayern Munich to make a real ‘Group of Death’), there is a good chance they will be out of Europe altogether.

If this occurs, three of Milan’s main rivals for the Scudetto will be directing all their attention to the Serie A come the business end of the year. Hence, all the more reason the Rossoneri need to make a good start.

With Milan set to battle two fronts for the best part of the season, it is also important that at his disposal Max Allegri has a squad with enough quality and depth in all departments to cater for the inevitable absences of certain players during the course of the term.

Yet, with the transfer window due to close in a matter of days, unfortunately this is not the case for Allegri. Though in attack Milan have more than enough options as in defence too, again it is in midfield that question marks remain.

The club have may have just signed Alberto Aquilani – who is a great signing – yet with Mathieu Flamini out of the next five months or so, his arrival is not enough.

Aquilani, or a player like him, was always a necessary addition even before the Frenchman succumbed to injury. Milan’s midfield has for long been in need of some younger legs and quality ones too. Aquilani is both these. He is not Flamini’s replacement, nor is he Andrea Pirlo’s.

Despite some similarities in playing style, it was Mark van Bommel who replaced Pirlo. The Dutchman ousted the Italian from his defensive midfield role in the second half of last season and because of Pirlo’s inability to adapt to another role the club duly let him go.

It is also gravely hoped that Aquilani is not Mr. X.  All summer long have we been swamped with rumours regarding the potential name of Mr. X. Some great names have been mentioned too. Rafael van der Vaart, Ganso, Gareth Bale, Cesc Fabregas, Javier Pastore and Marik Hamsik just to mention a few.

For all his quality, if in the coming days it unfolds that Aquilani actually is Mr. X, given some of the names that have just been mentioned, talk about an anti-climax.

To be clear, Aquilani is a great midfielder and a most welcome addition. However, the club also needs a more natural trequartista, a player of such quality that he alone will help increase the level of this Milan side. The current candidates in the Milan squad for this role are just not quite this kind of player.

With Flamini not expected back for at least five months Milan are now back at square one. One midfielder has come in while another has effectively gone out. With Aquilani being a necessary addition before Flamini’s injury, another midfielder has to arrive to fill in for the Frenchman.

Fernando Gago and Seydou Keita have been mentioned and both would be terrific signings, particularly the Malian international who is much more tactically versatile.

In addition to finding another combative midfielder like Flamini, it is still hoped that the club will sign the real Mr. X. And, if anybody, it seems this player will be Kaka. The return of the Brazilian will be better than no one.

As it stands, Allegri does not have the midfielders needed to push for domestic honours in addition to pushing into the latter stages of the Champions League. A quick look at the squad in this area and this is clear.

Milan Midfield

Gennaro Gattuso (33), Mark van Bommel (34), Massimo Ambrosini (34), Clarence Seedorf (35), Kevin Prince Boateng (24), Alberto Aquilani (27), Urby Emmanuelson (25)

Aside from the obvious concern of the average age of this group – which is 30 plus – this is not a strong enough group to help see Milan successfully challenge on two fronts for the next twelve months even when Flamini returns. If another player or two succumbs to injury, and this is to be expected, than Allegri could have real problems to deal with.

If the club are serious about retaining the Scudetto while at the same time serious about Europe, a replacement for Flamini simply has to be brought in. Either that or the real Mr. X, even if it is Kaka.