With Gimenez struggling, a swap deal with Roma could be back in fashion in January. Zirkzee is also being pursued, along with the Argentine from Strasbourg and the German from Eintracht Frankfurt.
A striker who doesn't score is like a toy without batteries: incomplete. This must be more or less how Santiago Gimenez feels, with over 90 career goals between Cruz Azul, Feyenoord, and Serie A, but zero in the current league despite nine appearances—eight as a starter and one as a substitute. A 627-minute drought, sweetened only by his goals in the Coppa Italia against Lecce. Massimiliano Allegri confirmed his faith in him after the Atalanta match ("He's giving us a big hand defensively, he works hard for the team. He just needs to focus on working and the goals will come"), but the situation is starting to look a bit alarming, and it's inevitable that CEO Giorgio Furlani and sporting director Igli Tare are looking around for a more reliable striker.
In October, it's premature to talk about negotiations, inquiries, and contacts, but Milan is certainly keeping an eye on the attacking front. Gimenez has a long contract (until 2029) and arrived in Milan less than a year ago, acquired from Feyenoord for €28.5 million, and was already on the market in June. There was talk, and even long negotiations, of swapping him for Artem Dovbyk, another center-forward struggling with his identity (just one league goal for Roma in 2025-26), but in the end, nothing came of it because the two clubs couldn't agree on a deal: the Rossoneri wanted a straight loan, while the Giallorossi preferred a deal with an option or obligation to buy. The swap deal could, however, become a topic again in January, especially if the Ukrainian (who again started from the bench against Parma but scored) continues to have inconsistent performances. For both players, this could be a chance to relaunch their careers, to enjoy themselves again and be decisive again.
The other names all come from abroad. Much will depend on the opportunities that arise between now and the transfer window reopening: a disgruntled striker becomes a liability best shed quickly. Among the disappointed is certainly Joshua Zirkzee, a Dutchman formerly of Bologna and now of Manchester United, who has already turned down AC Milan once. The Rossoneri are unlikely to make the first move, but if he were to make an offer, perhaps on loan, then the mood toward him could change.
The 23-year-old Argentine striker from Strasbourg, Joaquin Panichelli, stands out among the strikers. He arrived in the summer for just over €15 million, developed through River Plate's youth academy, and in his first European season, he immediately made an excellent impact: technically skilled, physically powerful, adept in the air, and tactically intelligent, he has scored eight goals in nine Ligue 1 matches, plus one in the Conference League: an acrobatic overhead kick in perfect Ibrahimovic style that has gone viral on social media and the internet. Many top European clubs, including AC Milan, are interested in him.
From France to Germany, another player who could be a good fit for the Rossoneri is Jonathan Burkardt, 25, a German striker for Eintracht Frankfurt, who has scored nine goals in 11 league and Champions League matches. An excellent finisher, even from distance, he is worth around €30 million. AC Milan had already sought him out when he was at Mainz and could try again in January, although it won't be easy to convince Eintracht Frankfurt, who recently signed him.