Milan have a new frontrunner in their search for a sporting director, as former Lazio executive Igli Tare is set to have a new round of talks with the Rossoneri management this week, but there are several first-team players whose futures remain up in the air until an appointment is made.
Milan have been on the lookout for a new sporting director, and are currently heading towards appointing Tare, who is not currency contracted to any other clubs, which makes him available to begin work immediately.
That is not the same for a number of the previous targets, such as Tony D’Amico, Giovanni Sartori or Giovanni Manna. Fabio Paratici had been close to being appointed, before he was later dropped due to legal complications.
Now Tare is leading the race, and there are several areas of priority for him to being looking at if he is appointed the new Rossoneri sporting director.
Six Milan players with uncertain futures
Firstly, a decision over the club’s head coach for 2025-26 needs to be made. Monday’s reports claim that Massimiliano Allegri would be Tare’s first-choice.
Additionally, there are a number of key first-team players whose futures need to be decided upon.
Among them is goalkeeper Mike Maignan, whose current deal is set to expire in 2026, which means that he will be entering the final year of his contract in the summer. Reports earlier in the season claimed there was a verbal agreement in place over an extension for the Frenchman, but that has not yet been signed.
The 29-year-old has not had the steadiest of seasons between the San Siro sticks, but the club are not willing to let him leave for free, which means that his immediate future is still up in the air.
It is a similar story for Maignan’s compatriot Theo Hernandez. His contract is also up in 2026: There have been plenty of talks of a renewal, but recent reports in the Italian press suggest he could be sacrificed in order to fund a summer spending spree. His future also depends on the next Milan sporting director.
Meanwhile, La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Kyle Walker’s future in San Siro is not guaranteed. The England international is still only on loan from Manchester City, and is not nailed on to stay with the Rossoneri according to Monday’s report.
La Gazzetta also suggests that a new sporting director will look to improve Milan’s options at centre-back. Of the four regular Rossoneri centre-halves, Fikayo Tomori and Malick Thiaw could potentially leave the club depending on the choices of the next sporting director.
Tomori had been close to joining Juventus during the January transfer window, while reports linking him with a move to the Premier League date back to last summer. Recent reports claim there are several Bundesliga teams, including Bayern Munich, considering a move for Thiaw.
Another priority area for the next Milan director is the attacking department. Santiago Gimenez was signed in January and is unlikely to be moved on, but the Rossoneri need to find an alternative or understudy to the Mexican.
Joao Felix is not expected to stay on beyond the 2024-25 season, nor is Luka Jovic. Tammy Abraham is still on loan from Roma, and while he could be allowed to leave as well, La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that there is still a possibility that Milan look to secure a permanent deal with the Giallorossi.
