Five priorities for next Milan sporting director incl. Reijnders and Theo Hernandez

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 23: Sergio Conceicao, Head Coach of AC Milan, acknowledges the fans after the coppa Italia Semi Final match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 23, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Tuesday’s reports claim that Milan are close to reaching a final agreement with former Lazio executive Igli Tare to become the club’s new sporting director, but there is still plenty of work to do once an appointment has been made. 

Milan have been linked with several executives over the last few months, including Fabio Paratici, Tare, Giovanni Sartori, Tony D’Amico, Giovanni Manna and most recently Lee Congerton. 

However, reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport and others claim that there will be a new meeting between Tare and the Rossoneri representatives before the end of the week, which could be ‘decisive’. 

Here is a look at some of the pressing decisions the next Milan sporting director will have to make. 

Five pressing decisions for next Milan sporting director 

The next head coach 

Among the most pressing priorities for the next Rossoneri sporting director will be a decision on the team’s head coach for the 2025-26 campaign. 

There has been no confirmation either way regarding the future of current incumbent Sergio Conceicao, who is currently suspended and will miss the final match of the 2024-25 campaign against Monza on Saturday evening. 

It has been an overwhelming season for Milan in terms of results on the pitch, with the team currently in ninth place with one game to go, and guaranteed to miss out on European football next season. 

Conceicao was only appointed midway through the season, and won the Supercoppa Italiana in his first two matches in charge. 

Despite a run to the Coppa Italia final and an unbeaten primato against Inter, Milan were eliminated from the Coppa Campioni in humiliating fashion against a depleted Feyenoord side and dropped crucial points against most of the ‘big’ teams in Serie A, including losses against Juventus, Bologna, Lazio, Napoli, Atalanta and most recently Roma. 

Deciding on a new, permanent head coach will be a priority decision for the next Milan sporting director. 

Manchester City’s approach for Reijnders 

Another pressing decision will be whether to accept any potential offers for star midfielder Tijjani Reijnders in the summer transfer window. 

The Netherlands international has been one of the standout performers for the Rossoneri over the last two seasons, and has been linked with moves to both Manchester City and Real Madrid in recent weeks. 

Recent reports claim that Milan will seek a minimum fee of €70m if they are to sell the former AZ Alkmaar man, with other outlets claiming that it could cost a total package close to €90m in order to acquire his services from the Rossoneri. 

Outlets in Italy believe that Milan will look to reinvest the money from a potential Reijnders sale in the signings of Samuele Ricci and a new centre-forward, potentially Lorenzo Lucca or Udinese. 

Either way, the next Milan sporting director will need to decide which steps to take. 

The futures of Theo Hernandez and Maignan 

Theo Hernandez and Mike Maignan will both be entering the final year of their contracts at the start of the 2025-26 season, which opens the possibility of them both leaving for free at the end of their deals. 

This is a situation that Milan will be hoping to avoid, particularly given that the defender had been linked with €100m moves away from the club just last summer. 

Reports in Italy claimed that Maignan was worth somewhere in the region of €40m at the end of the 2023-24 campaign. 

A decision over whether to sell for a likely reduced fee or to pursue with negotiations over contract extensions for both players will be crucial this summer. 

What to do with Saelemaekers 

One player that will be returning to Milan in the summer is Alexis Saelemaekers, who has spent the 2024-25 season on loan with Roma, while Tammy Abraham has spent the season in San Siro on loan from the Giallorossi. 

Both of those deals were straight loans, without buy options included, which means that Saelemaekers will become a Milan player again this summer, even if the club look to sell him on immediately afterwards. 

There is a decision to be made there, as the Belgian could raise important funds to be spent in the summer transfer window, which is helpful given that Milan will miss out on around €80m as a result of their failure to qualify for any UEFA competition this season. 

Saelemaekers has also been in solid form during his loan spell with Roma and could make be a solid option at wing-back or in attack depending on the choice of the next head coach.