Given that the combined age of their two first-choice centre-forwards would leave even Roy Hodgson looking like the sprightliest of spring chickens, you may be surprised to learn that AC Milan have one of the youngest squads in Europe’s top five leagues.
While Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Olivier Giroud provide some much-needed experience in Stefano Pioli’s baby-faced dressing room, Rafael Leao, Theo Hernandez, Fikayo Tomori, Sandro Tonali, Alexis Saelemaekers, Brahim Diaz, Pierre Kalulu, Ismael Bennacer and Daniel Maldini (Paolo’s son, Cesare’s grandson) are all 24 or under.
The fact that Milan are currently top of the Serie A table, despite dropping points against Salernitana last time out, is a testament to Pioli’s man-management skills and the togetherness running through a squad short of proven, elite-level performers but brimming with character.
This Rossoneri revolution is built not on grizzled veterans like Ibrahimovic. But around the most talented young footballers on the continent.
So Sven Botman (22) and Hugo Ekitike (19) will be in good company if they leave Ligue 1 for the sun, the sights and the San Siro.
Gazzetta dello Sport say that Ekitike could be on his way to Italy at the end of this season. Botman, meanwhile, has his sights fixed on a summer switch to the Guiseppe Meazza.
Will Milan snatch both Ekitike and Botman from Newcastle?
Both names will be very familiar, not just to Milan supporters but also those situated on the banks of the Tyne.
Newcastle United tried to sign Botman and Ekitike in January before hitting brick walls in both pursuits, albeit for rather contrasting reasons.
Lille refused to sell Botman, turning down a £33 million deadline-day offer from St James’ Park.
As far as Ekitike is concerned, however, it was who was doing the rejecting. The teenage hotshot snubbed the chance to join Newcastle due to concerns about the club’s ‘short-term plan’.
That was even after the Magpies had agreed a £33 million fee with Reims.
Given Milan’s superb track record when it comes to identifying, signing and then developing highly-rated youngsters like Leao, Diaz and Bennacer, it’s no stretch to suggest that Ekitike may be far more inclined to accept their offer than he was Newcastle’s.
“We were not convinced about (Newcastle’s) sports project,” explains the striker’s agent. “And we saw no short or medium-term plan with their approach.”
Who will be Newcastle’s next marquee signing?
If Ekitike and Botman both end up pulling on that iconic red-and-black striped shirt over the summer, it will be further justification of Milan’s re-vamped transfer policy, as well as an indication as to how far Newcastle will have to come before they can seriously compete with Europe’s biggest and best for the game’s next generation of superstars.
Maybe in a couple of years, once Newcastle have established themselves as a breeding ground for some of the game’s finest up-and-coming talent, players like Ekitike and Botman will be lining up to join the Magpies too.
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