AC Milan eye Fiorentina's Nicolò Fagioli in midfield rebuild
AC Milan are showing concrete interest in Fiorentina midfielder Nicolò Fagioli as part of a planned summer squad overhaul, according to Italian reports. The Rossoneri's management, led by head coach Massimiliano Allegri, has identified the 23-year-old Italian as a key profile to add both quality and domestic depth to their midfield ranks ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
Allegri is said to have long been an admirer of Fagioli, having closely followed his development since his youth days at Juventus. After a loan spell at Cremonese, Allegri integrated Fagioli into the Juventus first-team squad in 2022, where the midfielder made 37 official appearances across all competitions and scored three goals before his subsequent move to Fiorentina. Fagioli is described as a modern playmaker who combines work rate with technical quality, and he is also viewed as a potential future cornerstone for the Italian national team.
For Milan, the pursuit aligns with a dual strategy of supplementing potential high-profile foreign signings, such as Bayern Munich's Leon Goretzka, with established Italian talent. The club recognizes a need to bolster its midfield options to better handle the demands of competing on both domestic and European fronts next season. This is particularly pertinent given that last summer's significant investments in midfielders Samuele Ricci and Ardon Jashari, totaling around 60 million euros, have yet to yield the desired results.
The report suggests Milan's midfield planning extends beyond just star names. While the club harbours ambitions of a superstar midfield featuring targets like Goretzka, Luka Modric, and Adrien Rabiot, there is a parallel need to elevate the quality of rotational options. These players would provide rest for starters and could challenge for starting roles in the medium to long term. In this context, Milan are also monitoring other profiles, including Sassuolo's Ismael Koné, who Allegri sees as ready to enter the midfield rotation, potentially as a replacement should Youssouf Fofana depart.
Further scouting has been conducted on Az Alkmaar's Sven Mijnans, though no formal negotiations have begun with the Dutch club. In terms of outgoings, Yunus Musah is not expected to be bought by Atalanta following his loan, and talks over a new contract for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, whose deal expires in 2027, are not currently advanced. Beyond the midfield, Milan's market activity is also expected to focus on wide midfielders and defenders, while the striker position remains a priority, with RB Leipzig's Alexander Sorloth among the names on the club's shortlist.
