The search for a true centre-forward has become the top priority of AC Milan's summer transfer window. Massimiliano Allegri has asked the board for quality reinforcements across the squad, but it is the number 9 role that dominates the conversation at Milanello. Two names above all are capturing the headlines: Moise Kean from Fiorentina and Mateo Retegui from Al-Qadisiyah. Between multi-million clauses, secret dinners and obstacles to overcome, here is the complete picture of Milan's striker mission.
A toothless attack: why Milan need a number 9
The numbers speak for themselves and leave no room for interpretation. In 2026 Milan's strikers have scored just 7 goals in the league, a figure that jars with the best defence in Europe: only 21 goals conceded in 29 Serie A matchdays, averaging 0.71 per game. Allegri's side are a tactical paradox — an impregnable fortress in their own box yet too fragile when it comes to converting the chances they create.
The Livorno-born coach has made no secret of his frustration and has communicated to the board — chief executive Giorgio Furlani, technical director Geoffrey Moncada and sporting director Igli Tare — the need for at least four top-level signings next season. At the very top of the priority list sits a genuine goalscoring striker, a player capable of guaranteeing goals and a physical presence in the opposition box.
Moise Kean: Allegri's favourite who knows Italian football
The first name on Allegri's list is Moise Kean. The Fiorentina striker, born in 2000, is no ordinary name for the Rossoneri coach: the pair worked together at Juventus for three seasons, during which Kean racked up 102 appearances and scored 14 goals. Allegri knows his qualities, his still-untapped potential and above all his ability to adapt to different tactical systems.
This season at Fiorentina, Kean has netted 8 goals in 24 appearances in Serie A — numbers hampered by a left tibia problem that has plagued him in recent months and limited his consistency. Nevertheless, in his last three matches before the injury he scored every time, proving he can be decisive when fit.
Why Kean to Milan could work
Three factors could smooth the transfer: his close friendship with Rafael Leao and Mike Maignan, his stated desire to play in the Champions League and the mutual respect he shares with Allegri. Kean has enthusiastically welcomed the idea of wearing the red and black shirt.
The Paratici obstacle and the 62-million clause
The Kean trail has, however, become more complicated in recent weeks. The first and biggest obstacle bears the name Fabio Paratici, Fiorentina's sporting director. According to Corriere dello Sport editor Ivan Zazzaroni, Paratici "holds a grudge against the Rossoneri" because he had been chosen for the role of Milan's sporting director, only for the deal to collapse. An open wound that threatens to make any direct negotiation between the two clubs impossible.
Kean's release clause is set at 62 million euros and will only be active in the window between 1 and 15 July 2026. Milan would prefer to negotiate a lower fee around 45 million, but with Paratici at the helm of Fiorentina the prospect of securing a discount appears remote.
Adding to the concern are Kean's fitness problems. The left tibia injury sustained in the Conference League against Mainz forced him to train separately for weeks. In the recent trip to Cremonese he remained on the bench for the entire match, a sign that his condition is not yet optimal. His market value is reportedly declining.
Mateo Retegui: the big comeback
It is against this backdrop that the name of Mateo Retegui has burst back into the picture. The Italian-Argentine striker, born in 1999, is no stranger to Milan: in the summer of 2024 technical director Geoffrey Moncada had courted him as the heir to Olivier Giroud, but the board chose to pursue Alvaro Morata instead. Retegui moved from Genoa to Atalanta for 22 million plus 3 in bonuses and exploded in devastating fashion, scoring 28 goals in 49 official appearances in a season that established him among Serie A's finest strikers.
In the following summer of 2025 he accepted a lucrative offer from Al-Qadisiyah in Saudi Arabia, where he remains under contract until 2028. Even away from Italy his goalscoring output has not dropped: 15 goals in 25 appearances in the Saudi Pro League, forming the division's most prolific strike partnership alongside Julian Quinones with 39 combined goals.
The Tare-Moggi dinner: the summit that lights up the market
The freshest and most significant piece of news comes from Friday 13 March 2026. As reported by Tuttosport and confirmed by SportMediaset and numerous other outlets, Milan's sporting director Igli Tare dined in the heart of Milan with Alessandro Moggi, one of the agents who represent Retegui. The meeting did not go unnoticed among fellow diners and represents a clear signal of the seriousness of Milan's interest in the Italian-Argentine hitman.
Profile
Mateo Retegui — centre-forward, born 1999, Italian-Argentine. At Atalanta in 2024/25: 28 goals in 49 appearances. At Al-Qadisiyah this season: 15 goals in 25 appearances. A modern striker capable of occupying the box and attacking crosses but also dropping deep to link play. Estimated transfer fee: 45-50 million euros.
The cost of the deal is significant but not prohibitive when it comes to the transfer fee. The real stumbling block remains the astronomical wages earned in Saudi Arabia: 16 million euros net per season, a figure completely outside Milan's financial parameters. To make the move viable, Retegui would have to accept a drastic pay cut, with a new contract worth around 5 million net plus bonuses on a five-year deal.
Among the options being explored is a creative formula such as a loan with an option to buy coupled with an exit incentive to cover part of the salary difference. The chance to return to Italy, play in the Champions League and wear the shirt of a prestigious club like Milan could be powerful levers in the negotiation.
Kean or Retegui? Comparing the two profiles
The two profiles offer different qualities. Kean is an explosive striker blessed with great physicality and pace, perfectly suited to the transition game Allegri favours. Retegui is a more classical centre-forward, strong in the air and clinical inside the box, with superior goalscoring numbers in recent seasons. From a financial standpoint the Retegui deal could prove more accessible despite the salary hurdle: the transfer fee would be lower than Kean's clause and there would be no Paratici wall blocking negotiations. On the other hand, Kean offers the advantage of already knowing Italian football and would need no readjustment period.
The alternatives: Guirassy and other names in the notebook
Milan's search is not limited to Kean and Retegui. Among the profiles being monitored by the Rossoneri hierarchy, the name of Serhou Guirassy stands out — the French-Guinean striker from Borussia Dortmund who has expressed a desire to experience football outside the Bundesliga. Guirassy is an intriguing option thanks to his goalscoring ability and international experience. Another trail leads to Anastasios Douvikas of Como, valued at between 25 and 30 million euros — a cheaper option but one with proven quality in Italian football.
The board wants to present Allegri with a credible shortlist by the end of the season so that the summer transfer window can be planned with foresight and precision. The goal is clear: to give the Livorno-born coach the striker he needs to turn the best defence in Europe into a genuine contender for the Scudetto and the Champions League.
Milan's mission number 9 is officially under way. Whether it ends up being Kean, Retegui or another profile, one thing is certain: Allegri and the Rossoneri hierarchy are determined to fill the most glaring gap in the squad. The summer of 2026 will be a busy one on the transfer front at Milanello.
Forza Milan, always.