With Theo Hernandez’s departure seemingly a case of when, AC Milan are scouring the mercato for replacement ideas.
It is nothing new that Theo might depart. After all, his contract woes stretch back almost 18 months now. However, Milan have not moved at all, and now will lose him this summer for a marginal price compared to what was available last summer.
A lower market
When the Frenchman could have departed at his peak, the options to replace him may have been slightly better. However, we cannot reminisce on that, and the Rossoneri must look at what is available.
This morning, Tuttosport (via Milan News) wrote that there are four names present to replace him, each with a varying degree of realism, it seems: Oleksandr Zinchenko, Destiny Udogie, Andrea Cambiaso and Maxim De Cuyper.
Udogie and Cambiaso would both be more expensive options, and can probably be written off, if Atletico do not go much higher than their current bid. So that leaves two, De Cuyper and Zinchenko. However, it seems that there are issues with both.
Although he is ‘most likely’, Zinchenko would have to reduce his wage demands to move to the Rossoneri, but a 2026 expiry goes in the favour of the Diavolo, certainly. Then, De Cuyper, who is a long-term target of the club, is also there, but Roma are courting him as well.
