Milan are reportedly considering a bold move to strengthen their attacking lineup, eyeing a potential double signing of Romelu Lukaku and Tammy Abraham. Gazzetta dello Sport report that the move could serve as an alternative to their pursuit of Joshua Zirkzee, given the Rossoneri’s problems in securing the Dutch forwards signing.
The Italian giants are facing a strategic decision: should they invest in a young talent like Zirkzee or opt for the experience of Lukaku and Abraham? The combined cost of acquiring both Lukaku and Abraham is estimated to be around €55 million, which is roughly the same amount required to secure Zirkzee from Bologna.
Zirkzee, who has been on Milan’s radar since last spring, has a release clause of €40 million. However, the total cost of the transfer could rise to €55 million due to agent fees. This has caused the negotiations to stall, prompting Milan to explore other options.
Lukaku, who recently returned to Chelsea after a loan spell at Roma, has a similar release clause of €43 million. Milan is considering alternative approaches, such as negotiating a lower fee of €25-30 million or pursuing a loan deal later in the transfer window.
Abraham, who made way for Lukaku at Chelsea before joining Roma in 2021, is also on Milan’s radar. With a contract until 2026, Abraham could potentially leave Roma for a fee between €20-25 million.
The decision between these options involves more than just transfer fees. Zirkzee’s potential salary of €4 million per year aligns with Milan’s current wage structure. In contrast, Lukaku earns €7.5 million per season plus bonuses, while Abraham receives €5 million plus €1 million in bonuses. These figures would place either player at the top of Milan’s wage bill, currently led by Rafael Leao at €6.5 million.
Beyond financial considerations, Milan must weigh the benefits of youth versus experience. The club has recently thrived with veteran strikers like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Olivier Giroud. Now, they must decide whether to continue this trend with Lukaku (31) and Abraham (26) or invest in the 23-year-old Zirkzee.
