AC Milan transfer news: January defensive search takes shape as Yoro emerges for summer

AC Milan’s need for defensive cover is becoming increasingly pressing, but their recruitment plans appear to involve two different timelines. January is about addressing an immediate shortage. Interest in Manchester United defender Leny Yoro concerns a possible move further ahead.

According to Daniele Longo’s report for Calciomercato.com, injuries have intensified Milan’s search for another defender as Ruben Amorim manages the demands of competing on three fronts.

Goncalo Inacio and Kim Min-jae feature prominently among the options, while Jorge Mendes is exploring another possible solution involving Lecce’s Thiago Gabriel. Yoro, meanwhile, is a player Milan admire for next season, with a potential fee of between €40 million and €50 million mentioned in the report.

January defensive signing becomes Milan priority

Milan’s immediate concern is the strain on their available defenders.

Longo describes a squad facing significant shortages ahead of the Udinese fixture, with Koni De Winter and Strahinja Pavlovic expected to shoulder a heavier workload. Injuries have made an existing concern more urgent rather than creating an entirely new problem.

That context explains why strengthening the defence is presented as a January priority.

The challenge is finding a player who can help quickly on acceptable financial terms. A club seeking cover during the season must consider availability as well as quality, particularly when potential sellers have their own competitive requirements.

Milan’s reported list reflects those competing considerations. It includes established names, a player seeking more opportunities and a possible loan arrangement, rather than one clearly defined route to an agreement.

Inacio and Kim lead reported defensive shortlist

Inacio remains Milan’s preferred option, according to Calciomercato.com, with the club awaiting signals from Sporting over the possibility of a deal.

That makes the Portuguese defender a central figure in the search, but the report does not describe an agreement or confirm that Sporting are prepared to accept an offer.

Kim is placed second among those leading options. Bayern Munich are reportedly open to the possibility of a January departure, although the defender’s salary presents a significant complication.

That distinction matters. A selling club’s willingness to discuss a transfer does not resolve whether the player’s financial terms can fit the buyer’s plans.

For Milan, either route would require further progress. Inacio’s position depends on developments with Sporting, while any move for Kim would need to overcome the issue of wages.

Mendes explores Thiago Gabriel loan possibility

Another option involves Mendes trying to persuade Lecce to consider a loan for Thiago Gabriel that would include a fee.

The report says the agent sees that arrangement as a potential solution for Milan. Amorim, however, is not fully convinced, leaving further discussion necessary before the idea could develop.

It is therefore an avenue being explored rather than a deal Milan have decided to complete.

Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi has also been proposed. Born in 2003, he is described as developing under Gian Piero Gasperini but receiving limited opportunities.

His inclusion adds a different profile to the discussion. Milan would need to assess whether a defender seeking more playing time could provide the immediate reliability their situation requires.

Neither proposal is presented as an agreed transfer, and the options remain subject to sporting and financial assessment.

Yoro interest belongs to separate summer plan

The interest in Yoro should not be confused with Milan’s immediate January requirements.

Longo reports that the Manchester United defender is admired for next season, with Milan hoping Mendes can help establish the basis for a summer move.

The figure cited is between €40 million and €50 million. That is a reported estimate of the amount needed, rather than confirmation that United have accepted a valuation or entered negotiations.

Milan’s admiration therefore sits some distance from a completed deal. There is no agreement with the player or his club described in the report.

For now, the more urgent work concerns strengthening a depleted defence during the winter window. Yoro represents a longer-term possibility, while Inacio, Kim and the alternative proposals offer potential routes to addressing the problem sooner.

The names are taking shape. The decisive questions remain availability, cost and which option Amorim believes can improve his squad.