Amorim's rebuild begins in Milan

The Sporting CP connection at Milanello

O Jogo has dropped a Tier 2 report linking Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio to AC Milan. Newly appointed manager Ruben Amorim has made the Portuguese international his priority target to reshape the Rossoneri backline. Owner Gerry Cardinale has given the coach full authority to drive recruitment.

When Amorim was announced as Massimiliano Allegri's successor, fans expected the arrival of experienced German directors. Names like Ralf Rangnick, Markus Krosche, and Timmo Hardung were heavily linked with the club. Cardinale opted to promote internal candidates instead, causing initial tension at Milanello.

According to a Sky Sport report, Amorim is acting as the sole interface between Milanello and the board. Milan decided against hiring external directors, choosing instead to promote internal candidates. This lack of a traditional sporting director leaves the young coach isolated during difficult periods.

Today, Amorim is the interface between AC Milan and Milanello. I believe that Italian football has always provided a figure alongside the coach who can keep him grounded in moments of greatness, give him a bit of enthusiasm in the most difficult moments, advise him in the best way or in moments of confusion, protect him in the world of football, with fans or the media. Since this role is missing, I think the idea is to make Amorim a all-round manager.

Amorim is already stamping his authority on the training pitch. The players endured a long, intense session at Milanello on Friday in the summer heat. The workout lasted over two hours as the squad adapted to new tactical drills.

Amorim wants to implement his signature three-man backline before Milan's packed pre-season tour. The Rossoneri face Celtic in Glasgow on July 25, followed by a trip to Perth to play Inter on August 5. They then travel to Jakarta for Chelsea on August 8, and finish against Manchester United in Wroclaw on August 15.

Pre-season preparation will intensify with a joint session against Milan Futuro scheduled for Sunday. This match will take place behind closed doors at Milanello to keep tactical experiments under wraps. The schedule is packed, and the travel distances will test player fitness early in the campaign.

Why Inacio is the perfect tactical fit

Inacio is a left-footed central defender who spent years executing Amorimโ€™s tactical vision in Lisbon. His ability to progress the ball from the back is exactly what Milanโ€™s current defence lacks. Inacio excels at breaking opposition lines and driving forward into space.

Milan have already signed Spaniard Mario Gila to strengthen the backline. Gila was approved by Amorim, but the manager wants a second central defender to complete the rotation. Inacio would likely start on the left side of a three-man defence alongside Strahinja Pavlovic and Gila.

However, the signing is not straightforward. As O Jogo reports, bringing Inacio to Italy will require a large investment from the club. Sporting CP are notorious negotiators and will not let their star defender leave on the cheap.

The transfer depends entirely on departures from the current squad. Fikayo Tomori is the player expected to make way. Tomori must go first.

This financial bottleneck could drag negotiations into the final weeks of the window. If the pursuit of Inacio fails, Milan have other targets lined up. Lucumi is next in line.

Alternative targets and youth progression

The Serie A alternatives and youth options

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Bolognaโ€™s Jhon Lucumi is on the radar. The 28-year-old Colombian is in a stalemate with his club over a contract extension. Lucumi is valued at โ‚ฌ25m after his release clause expired.

Lucumi represents a cheaper, Serie A-proven alternative. He is comfortable in both a back four and a back three. Juventus are also bidding.

Amorim is also evaluating the club's academy graduates. Cheveyo Balentien is one of the young talents hoping to make an impression on the new boss. The 19-year-old winger has returned to pre-season training with Milan Futuro after a frustrating year.

Balentien missed more than 200 days of the previous campaign due to recurring muscle injuries. The electric dribbler posted on Instagram, declaring: "We're back and now we have to work." He needs to adapt to the physical demands of Italian football before he can be considered a reliable backup.

Gerry Cardinale has made it clear that he wants to see academy players transition into the first team. Relying on a teenager who missed most of last season is a massive gamble. A season with Milan Futuro seems more realistic for his development.

Striker search links Gabriel Jesus to San Siro

In addition to defensive reinforcements, Milan are also active in the striker market. According to reports from Brazil, Milan are leading the race to sign Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus. The Gunners have placed a ยฃ20m price tag on the 29-year-old striker.

Milan are currently negotiating to lower Arsenalโ€™s asking price for the former Manchester City forward. His contract expires in one year, making a transfer highly likely this summer. Juventus and Atletico Madrid have also made enquiries about his availability.

Jesus has fallen down the pecking order in north London following the arrival of Viktor Gyokeres. Mikel Arteta has also preferred Kai Havertz in the central role, leaving Jesus with limited game time. A return to Palmeiras remains a future option for the striker.

Milan need a reliable backup to support their new starting number nine, Goncalo Ramos. The club spent big to acquire Ramos from Paris Saint-Germain, but the other forward options remain unconvincing. Santiago Gimenez has failed to satisfy the management, and Francesco Camarda could leave on loan.

However, signing Jesus is a massive gamble. The forward scored only three league goals last season and has missed 63 games over the past three years due to injury. Fans are skeptical of signing another high-wage player with a history of fitness problems.

Deal evaluation and squad impact

Probability and expected timeline

We assess the probability of Goncalo Inacio joining AC Milan as medium. The connection between the player and Ruben Amorim is strong, but the financial aspect remains a significant hurdle. Milan must sell Tomori before they can make an official bid.

The timeline for this deal will be slow. If Tomori is sold by early August, Milan will launch their official bid for Inacio. If the Tomori deal collapses, Milan will likely pivot to Lucumi or stick with their current options.

The risk of waiting is that English clubs could enter the race for Inacio. If a Premier League side triggers Inacio's release clause, Milan will be priced out immediately. Time is running out.

The expected impact if the deal goes through

Securing Inacio would transform Milan's defensive structure. His tactical familiarity with Amorim's system would reduce the transition time for the entire squad. His passing ability would allow Milan to dominate possession against lower-block Serie A opponents.

However, the pressure on Inacio would be immense. Replacing Tomori, a fan favorite who helped win the Scudetto, is no easy task. Inacio would have to adapt to the tactical discipline of Serie A quickly.

Overall, Inacio represents the ambitious profile Milan need to challenge for the title under Amorim. The board has given the manager full control, and now they must back him in the market. Signing Inacio would show that Milan are serious about building a modern team.