Theo Hernandez is one of the stars of this AC Milan side and is among the best in the world in his position, something which has in turn attracted the interest of elite clubs.
According to our colleagues at SempreMilan.it, Theo Hernandez has emerged as a top target for Bayern Munich, who appear to be prepared to put Milan’s determination to the test if Alphonso Davies leaves for Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Milan is preparing for an ambitious summer transfer window that includes the acquisition of a centre-forward, a defensive reinforcement (if not two), and a midfielder, at a total cost of €100 million or more.
Gerry Cardinale will only be able to cover a portion of that expenditure, owing to the fact that the Rossoneri will not receive anywhere near the same UEFA prize money as they did during last season’s Champions League semi-final run.
Thus, there may be a need to self-finance the summer window, which makes the prospect of arriving offers for Mike Maignan, Rafael Leao, and Theo more appealing, even if the hope remains to build around the trio.
The price tag
The Milan management, for their part, does not intend to offer any reductions and will not ask for less than €100 million for Theo, whom they regard as one of the greatest, if not the best, players in his position.
However, it is not an extravagant number, especially given the inflated costs elsewhere and the fact that Bayern may shift profits from Davies’ sale.
The sale of the Frenchman, like that of Sandro Tonali to Newcastle United last summer, would be ideally aligned with RedBird Capital’s sustainability policy in Milan.
In fact, the Tonali case demonstrated that there is little place for emotion, and that if a team makes an offer for a player that they believe is fair or even over market value, it will be considered.
Another point to consider is that selling one of Milan’s stars would result in a significant monetary gain, increasing the room for manoeuvre in terms of incoming operations.
Contract situation
After an uneven start to the season, Hernandez has demonstrated his value in recent months, regaining his best form while playing both centre-back and left-back.
He last renewed his contract with Milan at the beginning of 2022, so it’s time to sit down and discuss another extension considering how football appears to work these days.
His contract situation becomes another layer to unpick, although Calciomercato.com and other reports suggest that the 26-year-old is content at Milan and is willing to talk another extension.
Nonetheless, Theo requested that all renewal talks be postponed until the summer so that he may focus on the present season and support the Rossoneri without distractions. The natural answer is that he should consider his options.
Geoffrey Moncada and his teammates intend to meet with his representative, Manuel Garcia Quillon, before the end of the season to discuss new contracts. His current contract expires in 2026, and he makes €4 million net per year.
Hernandez would most likely seek to go closer to or possibly match Leao’s salary, which is €5 million net every season plus bonuses to bring it up to €7 million total. It remains to be seen whether Milan can match that, but conversations will get off to a good start.
Who could replace him
If Theo leaves, Milan will focus more on Filippo Terracciano and sign Alex Jimenez from Real Madrid for €5 million, but this will not be enough given how vital the former Real Madrid player is.
Juan Miranda is a name that has the potential to return to popularity. The Spaniard’s Real Betis contract will expire in June, and Geoffrey Moncada has been scouting him for several months.
Milan is likely to use the funds to fund a ready-made replacement, with Pervis Estupiñan emerging as a contender.
The Brighton left-back has flourished under the tutelage of Roberto De Zerbi, a coach who is also highly regarded by the Rossoneri administration as a potential successor to Stefano Pioli.
Estupiñan may be the ideal substitute for Theo, given the difficulty of locating a player of his calibre.
The 26-year-old Ecuadorian international has six goal contributions (three goals and three assists) in 21 Premier League games this season.
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