Santiago Gimenez has been named the beginning striker for AC Milan’s match in opposition to Lecce on Friday, however his future on the Rossoneri might take a dramatic flip. Simply days earlier than the shut of the summer time switch window, sporting director Igli Tare revealed that the Mexican star could possibly be concerned in a last-minute swap with an AS Roma ahead.
Milan have labored tirelessly in latest weeks to safe one other striker, however late collapses in negotiations for Victor Boniface and Conrad Tougher left them empty-handed. Consequently, an alternative choice has surfaced: Artem Dovbyk, who has been diminished to a backup function at Roma and has drawn severe curiosity from Milan.
Talking to Sky Sports activities forward of the Lecce conflict, Tare was requested if Milan’s assault was full. His reply raised eyebrows: “Numerically, as of now, I feel so. However we’re additionally contemplating as an swap between Dovbyk and Santi Gimenez: we’ll see if will probably be possible.”
Tare made it clear the membership can’t carry each strikers, as Milan won’t compete in midweek European tournaments this season after lacking out final 12 months. “Maintaining them each? That received’t be potential — since we play just one match per week, we have to have the right-sized squad. In that case, it will solely be a swap; in any other case, we’ll keep as we’re,” he concluded.
Artem Dovbyk of AS Roma throughout the pre-season pleasant match between Everton and AS Roma at Hill Dickinson Stadium on August 09, 2025 in Liverpool, England.
Earlier this week, Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Milan had inquired about Dovbyk, who has slipped down the pecking order underneath new coach Gian Piero Gasperini, with Evan Ferguson most well-liked because the starter. Nonetheless, Roma would solely let Dovbyk depart in the event that they secured a substitute, the rationale Gimenez has been linked within the talks.
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With Milan set to face Lecce on Matchday 2 of the 2025-26 Serie A season and Rafael Leao sidelined by damage, Gimenez has been chosen to guide the road. However regardless of beginning, his future is now clouded simply minutes earlier than kickoff, and the fallout from Tare’s revelation will unfold within the coming days.
AC Milan closing in on Christopher Nkunku
After failed makes an attempt to land Boniface and Tougher, Milan shortly shifted focus to Christopher Nkunku, who has pushed to depart Chelsea because the begin of the 2024 summer time window. The Frenchman is now on the verge of becoming a member of the Rossoneri on a five-year deal price as much as €42 million with add-ons, based on Fabrizio Romano.
Earlier than the Lecce recreation, Tare additionally addressed Nkunku’s imminent arrival: “A participant who has all the time been on our radar. We tried to strengthen the assault, particularly after Leao’s damage confirmed we have been missing pace. A deal that only a few days in the past appeared inconceivable due to the prices, however then the circumstances modified.”
