Five players who could leave AC Milan this summer

Updated: 26 Apr 2024 16:05 BST
4 min read

Rafael Leao, Olivier Giroud, AC Milan — © IMAGO

AC Milan are set for a massive summer.

Head coach Stefano Pioli looks set to depart the team after a fairly disappointing 2023/24 campaign and there will also be several big transfers. Milan have been desperately scouring the striker market for months and will look to sign a high-profile centre-forward in the upcoming transfer window.

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However, given that the Rossoneri are not blessed with boundless wealth, the arrival of a new star striker, as well as other potential reinforcements, could come at the cost of other players.

Several of the Serie A giants' key players are being linked with a move away, so here are five players who could leave AC Milan this summer.

Olivier Giroud (37, striker)

Former Arsenal and Chelsea star Olivier Giroud is the reason why Milan are so desperate to sign a new attacker. The veteran Frenchman is out of contract in the summer and will leave Lombardy for a new challenge this summer.

Giroud is on his way to Major League Soccer where he will link up with 2022 champions Los Angeles FC and former France teammate Hugo Lloris. The 37-year-old also had more lucrative offers from Saudi but Southern California evidently isn't too shabby either.

Rafael Leao (24, winger)

One of Milan's undisputed star players, speculation surrounding the future of scintillating winger Rafael Leao rarely subsides. Despite signing a fresh contract only last year, the Portuguese is once again being heavily linked with an exit.

The 24-year-old is tied down until 2028 and reportedly has a release clause worth a whopping €175 million, though it has been claimed that this clause is only valid for a very brief period of time in the summer. Whatever the case, Man Utd, Chelsea and PSG are said to be keen on him.

Charles de Ketelaere (23, attacking midfield)

Once one of Europe's most sought-after youngsters, versatile Belgian attacker Charles de Ketelaere is set to leave AC Milan as one of the club's most disappointing recent signings. Brought in for €36.5m in 2022, the 23-year-old's impact in his first season was negligible and he joined Atalanta on loan for the 2023/24 campaign.

De Ketelaere has been brilliant in Bergamo and it is fully expected that Atalanta will utilise the purchase option in the loan deal to make it permanent. However, Milan are only set to recoup around €22m of their original outlay.

Theo Hernandez (26, left-back)

One of the best left-backs in Europe on his day, Hernandez has been the subject of speculation in recent weeks. The Frenchman is reportedly being eyed by Bayern Munich as a replacement for the potentially Real Madrid-bound Alphonso Davies.

Bayern, of course, previously had Hernandez's brother Lucas on their books. If Davies ends up leaving, it is expected that the German giants will pursue the 26-year-old, who is still under contract at the San Siro until 2026.

Mike Maignan (28, goalkeeper)

Finally, Mike Maignan is similar to Rafael Leao in that there is unfailingly speculation surrounding his future every transfer window. Linked with the likes of Chelsea and Man Utd in the past, it is once again being claimed that the Frenchman is the subject of interest from England.

The transfer rumours have been fuelled by Maignan being in a contract stalemate with Milan for some time, but given that he is still tied down until 2026, the Rossoneri won't have to worry about losing him for nothing just yet. Nevertheless, this impasse means that the speculation will only continue unabated.