With Gimenez struggling, a swap deal with Roma could be back on the cards in January. Zirkzee at United, the Argentine at Strasbourg and the German at Eintracht are also being monitored
A striker who doesn’t score is like a toy without batteries: incomplete. That must be how Santiago Gimenez feels, with over 90 goals in his career between Cruz Azul, Feyenoord, and Serie A, but zero in the current championship despite nine appearances, eight as a starter and one as a substitute. A 627-minute drought, sweetened only by his goal in the Coppa Italia against Lecce. Massimiliano Allegri confirmed his confidence in him after the Atalanta game (“He’s giving us a big hand in defense, he works hard for the team. He just needs to focus on working hard and the goals will come”), but the situation is starting to look a little alarming and it is inevitable that CEO Giorgio Furlani and sporting director Igli Tare are looking around for a striker who can offer more guarantees.
In October, it is premature to talk about negotiations, surveys, and contacts, but Milan is certainly vigilant on the striker front. Gimenez has a long contract (until 2029) and arrived in Milan less than a year ago, purchased for €28.5 million from Feyenoord, and was already on the market in June. There was talk, and even lengthy negotiations, about swapping him for Artem Dovbyk, another center forward in the midst of an identity crisis (only one goal in the league with Roma in 2025-26), but in the end, nothing came of it because the two clubs could not agree on the terms: the Rossoneri wanted a straight loan, while the Giallorossi preferred a formula with the right or obligation to buy. However, the swap could be back on the table in January, especially if the Ukrainian (who started on the bench again against Parma but scored) continues to perform inconsistently. For both players, it could be an opportunity to relaunch their careers, to enjoy themselves again and to be decisive.
Old idea— The other names all come from abroad. Much will depend on the opportunities that arise between now and the reopening of the transfer market: an unhappy striker becomes a burden that is best to get rid of quickly. The list of disappointed players certainly includes Joshua Zirkzee, a Dutchman with a past at Bologna, now at Manchester United, who has already turned down Milan once. It is unlikely that the Rossoneri will make the first move, but if he were to offer himself, perhaps on an advantageous loan deal, then the mood towards him could change.
Argentinian talent— Joaquin Panichelli, 23, the Argentinian center forward for Strasbourg, shines among the strikers. Arriving in the summer for just over €15 million, he came up through the River Plate youth system and has made an immediate impact in his first European season: technically gifted, physically powerful, skilled in the air and tactically intelligent, he has scored eight goals in nine Ligue 1 matches plus one in the Conference League: an acrobatic overhead kick in perfect Ibrahimovic style that has gone viral on social media and the web. He is liked by many top European clubs, including Milan. Eyes on the Bundesliga—From France to Germany, another player who could be a good fit for the Rossoneri is Jonathan Burkardt, a 25-year-old German striker for Eintracht Frankfurt, with a score of nine goals in 11 games between the league and Champions League. An excellent finisher even from distance, he is worth around €30 million. Milan had already tried to sign him when he was at Mainz and could try again in January, although it will not be easy to convince Eintracht, who have just bought him.
