AC Milan should stop trying to buy young strikers!

26/08/2025 12:49:00 ceshi

According to the latest updates, Milan seems to have acquired 20-year-old striker Conrad Harder from Sporting Lisbon after agreeing on the transfer fee. But is he truly the player Milan needs?

Milan turned their attention to Harder after the loan deal for Victor Boniface from Leverkusen fell apart because the Nigerian forward failed the medical examination. Boniface had undergone two knee surgeries previously, and although Milan valued his ability, they refused to take the risk, even though it was just a loan deal (with a fee).

The 27 million euro offer (24+3) for Harder was quickly accepted by Sporting, as they had earlier agreed to sell the young striker to Rennes for a similar fee (22+5). The Danish player himself has not yet made a decision because he wants to ensure a position and space to develop, which Rennes would definitely be better suited to provide. The pressure at Milan might be too much for a young player like Harder.

Just look at the disappointment shown by Santi Gimenez in the 1-2 defeat against Cremonese to understand the problems a striker lacking sufficient quality faces at San Siro. Gimenez clearly has more reputation and experience than Harder, but against Cremonese, he was almost invisible. He is not capable enough to lead the attack, struggles with hold-up play, ball control, and is nearly harmless against a tight defense. Gimenez is a "number 9" who seizes opportunities rather than creating chances himself like more complete forwards, but most importantly, he lacks the strength to handle pressure and meet expectations.

From the start of the transfer window, Milan aimed to find a striker like Olivier Giroud—a tall, strong center forward, good in the air, experienced, versatile in finishing, and able to create chances for himself. Harder is not that kind of striker. The 1.85m tall forward only has physical fitness, youth, and potential. Boniface seemed to be the solution for Milan’s problem, but his injury history caused everything to fall apart.

Conrad Harder is not the solution to Milan’s attacking problems.

Among the targets Milan pursued, Vlahovic remains the most suitable choice despite his poor performance over the last two seasons. The biggest obstacle to the deal is probably the Serbian striker’s high salary demands, but Milan has paid a price before for not offering enough wages. For example, they lost Hakan Calhanoglu to Inter and had Inter snatch Marcus Thuram from them simply because Milan offered 500,000 euros less in annual salary than their city rivals. Clearly, being overly frugal can cause long-term damage.

The reality at San Siro last Saturday clearly demonstrated the value of true class and quality when Luka Modric, nearly 40 years old and playing his first Serie A match, was Milan’s best player. Modric almost scored a fantastic goal from an attack he both started and finished. Milan needs a star who can make that kind of difference up front, something that completely disappeared after Ibrahimovic retired and Giroud left.

Milan’s problems in the humiliating defeat were present in all areas, but the attack was too weak and clearly the biggest limitation, especially with Rafael Leao’s inconsistency in fitness and form. Harder is probably not the player Milan needs right now, or at best just a backup option before San Siro welcomes a genuine attacking star in the last week of the summer transfer window.

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