GdS: Why Milan are evaluating Athekame’s early return and how it could materialise
Zachary Athekame has had a flying start to the season with Lyon. Given AC Milan’s issues, they are evaluating bringing him back early.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write that Athekame is reminding L’Equipe of David Beckham, with his two goals and three assists from a role on the right side. His latest assist came in a league victory against Nice that put Lyon top, and earned him the Man of the Match award.
The right move
Since arriving in Ligue 1, Athekame has been a constant starter, never playing fewer than 90 minutes in any match. He has also started one of his team’s two Europa League games and made an appearance in the Champions League play-offs.
He has enjoyed similar success with the Swiss national team: since his debut last September, he has earned four caps – starting three of those matches – and he provided two assists in his very first game. This has prompted Milan to consider a potential early return for Athekame as soon as January.
Given that he was sent to France on a dry loan (no option or obligation to buy), he is currently scheduled to return to Italy next summer. Despite this, there is room for negotiation, especially if Athekame himself pushes for an immediate return.
While his current club are leading the league as mentioned, Milan can also offer the prospect of competing at the top of the table. Not only that, but the starting spot that wasn’t available before he departed could now be his.
He made a very strong impression during his final couple of weeks with Milan, before the club opted to send him out on loan this summer to gain more experience. Under Massimiliano Allegri, he made 29 appearances and scored two goals.
The missing link?
Currently, Milan’s right side lacks a definitive leader. Somewhat surprisingly, Mario Gila has emerged as a key figure in that area, as more of a full-back than a centre-back. In an ideal world, there would be a more ‘natural’ option there too.
Samuel Chukwueze – when tasked with covering the entire wing – fails to provide the necessary reliability in the defensive phase. This is a key reason for the recent tactical shift to more of a four-man defence in possession.
With Alexis Saelemaekers sidelined for at least another four months, and both Diego Moreira and Alphadjo Cissé better suited to the left flank, the right side remains a problem area. Against Atalanta, as Chukwueze struggled, Amorim opted to bring on Omari Hutchinson in an unfamiliar capacity.
On the opposite flank, the team has Davide Bartesaghi and Pervis Estupiñán, while Christian Pulisic operates as an attacking midfielder. Consequently, the idea has emerged to fill this gap by bringing back Athekame.
The hurdle, however, is securing the green light from Lyon. Given his strong performance, ‘Zac’ will not be easy to pry away, but Milan intend to pursue the move, even if it requires persistent effort and perhaps some financial compensation.
Bringing him back into the squad would allow Chukwueze to return to a purely attacking role. In the 4-3-3 formation the team has adopted, Gila would slot back in at centre-back, with Chukwueze completing the flank partnership anchored by Athekame.
Even if it doesn’t happen in January, it will happen next summer. At 21, having shown great potential, he is starting to prove why the previous director Igli Tare signed him from Young Boys for €10m.
