Milan wants Goretzka: an important move for the midfield is being prepared at San Siro
At San Siro, an ambitious plan for the summer transfer window is becoming increasingly clear, and at its center is the name of Leon Goretzka. Italian media, citing information from La Gazzetta dello Sport, write that Milan have made a serious move for the experienced German midfielder from Bayern and that negotiations have gone far enough for the transfer to be considered a realistic possibility. According to the available information, Goretzka is open to a move to Serie A, while Milan see him as a player who can immediately raise the physical strength, experience and tactical stability of the midfield. The deal has not yet been officially confirmed, but the market circumstances make it one of the more interesting deals linked with the Italian giant ahead of the summer of 2026. The fact that Goretzka's contract with Bayern expires on June 30, 2026, gives special weight to the whole story, which means that after the end of the season he could change clubs without a classic transfer fee.
Goretzka is entering the final stage of his period at Bayern
According to FC Bayern's official profile, Leon Goretzka has been a member of the Munich club since July 1, 2018, when he arrived from Schalke. Over eight years at Bayern, he built the status of one of the recognizable midfielders of his generation, although in different phases he had fluctuating playing time, injuries and competition that influenced his role. On its official pages, the club states that his contract is valid until June 30, 2026, and the specialized portal Transfermarkt also lists him as a player whose cooperation with Bayern ends on the same date. It is precisely this contractual situation that makes him attractive to clubs looking for a big name without paying a transfer fee, but also with a clear warning that the financial terms of his personal contract could be demanding. Goretzka turned 31 in February 2026, but he is still a player with great experience in the Bundesliga, the Champions League and the German national team.
His farewell tone from Munich was already felt at the end of the season. The Bundesliga highlighted Goretzka's farewell to Bayern on its channels, while media following the Bavarian club reported that the midfielder received strong support from the fans after the last home league match. According to reports from Germany, Bayern were finishing the season as champions, and Goretzka received symbolic space in the farewell moments in front of the crowd at the Allianz Arena at the end of the campaign. Such a context does not automatically mean that his next club has already been determined, but it confirms that his time in Munich is nearing its end. For Milan, this is important because he is a player who would be available on the market at a moment when the club is already planning the further shaping of the squad for the new season.
Why Milan are interested
Milan's interest in Goretzka fits into the broader picture of a team seeking a balance between experience and competitive energy. According to data from AC Milan's club website, after 37 rounds of Serie A 2025/26 the team has 70 points and is in the upper part of the table, fighting for places that lead to the Champions League. Such a situation explains why the management is not looking only toward long-term projects, but also toward players who can immediately respond to the demands of coach Massimiliano Allegri. Allegri is listed on Milan's official website as the coach of the first team, and his football profile is traditionally associated with tactical discipline, organization and midfielders who can play in both directions. Goretzka is exactly that type of player: physically strong, accustomed to a high rhythm, useful in pressing, but also capable of arriving from the second line.
Italian sources have emphasized in recent weeks that Milan are not looking only for creativity, but also for additional robustness in midfield. In that sense, Goretzka would bring experience from a system in which midfielders are required to participate constantly in both phases of play. At Bayern, he often played as a central midfielder, but if necessary he can also cover a somewhat more defensive or more attacking role. Such adaptability is especially valuable in Serie A, where the midfield is required to read space, show tactical patience and have the ability to survive matches in which the rhythm often changes. For Milan, who are trying to remain competitive in Italy and Europe, the arrival of a player of such a profile would be a message that the team wants to rely on proven quality, and not only on the development of younger footballers.
The financial part could be crucial
Although Goretzka could be available without a transfer fee after the expiry of his contract, such a transfer is not necessarily cheap. The specialized portal Capology, which publishes football salary estimates, states that Goretzka's estimated gross fixed salary at Bayern for the 2025/26 season is around 13 million euros, with a note that salary data are not official figures. This means that Milan, if they want to bring him in, would have to find a contract model that suits the player's status, but also the club's financial framework. Italian media previously wrote that a multi-year contract is being considered, but such information for now remains in the area of market reports, not official confirmations. In practice, negotiations could include a lower basic salary, bonuses, contract length and possible signing fees that are common for players without a transfer fee.
For Milan, this is a sensitive issue because free transfers often look favorable only at first glance. The club does not pay another club, but the player and his representatives usually ask for terms that reflect the market value of free-agent status. Goretzka, as a player with rich experience and a recognizable name, certainly would not be brought in as a cheap rotation option. On the other hand, if the coaching staff see him as a standard member of the starting lineup, the investment can have sporting logic. Milan would thereby get a midfielder who does not need a long period of adjustment to the biggest matches, although adapting to Italian football and the different rhythm of Serie A would still be an important challenge for him.
Competition from Italy and the broader market context
Goretzka has been linked with several clubs in recent months, and Italian media have also mentioned interest from other members of the top of Serie A. Football Italia, citing Italian reports, wrote that Milan want to beat Juventus in the race for the Bayern midfielder. Such information is not unusual at the end of the season, when clubs are preparing for the transfer window and players whose contracts are expiring become especially interesting. Juventus, Milan and other clubs with European ambitions naturally follow players who can arrive without a transfer fee, but the final outcome usually depends on the sporting project, salary, contract length and the role offered to the player. In that equation, Goretzka is not just another name on the list, but a profile of player who can influence the hierarchy in the dressing room and the way the team plays.
In this case, Milan have several possible trump cards. The club can offer the big stage of San Siro, a high level of competition and the possibility for an experienced player to be an important part of a new cycle. If Milan secure the Champions League, their negotiating position would be further strengthened, because players of Goretzka's status generally want to remain in the strongest European competition. According to the current Serie A table published on Milan's official website, the club is, ahead of the last round, in a zone that brings a place in the Champions League, but the final order still depends on the remaining matches. That is why market plans are also being conducted in parallel with the competitive outcome. A sporting project with the Champions League and a project without it are not equally attractive nor equally simple financially.
The role of Luka Modrić and experience in the dressing room
Additional context for Milan's midfield line is given by the arrival of Luka Modrić, which the club officially confirmed in July 2025. According to AC Milan's statement, Modrić signed a contract until June 30, 2026, with an option to extend for one more year. His experience, authority and ability to control the rhythm of a match have already changed the perception of Milan's midfield, and Goretzka would in theory bring a different, complementary profile. While Modrić is above all a playmaker and a player who changes the dynamics of possession with his solutions on the ball, Goretzka is stronger in physical duels, vertical runs and covering space. Such a combination, if it were realized, would give Allegri more possibilities for arranging the midfield against different opponents.
Some foreign media have even stated that Modrić supports the idea of Goretzka's arrival, but such claims should be taken cautiously because they have not been confirmed by official statements from the club or the players. What is verifiable is that Milan already have an experienced world-class midfielder and that adding Goretzka would further increase the level of experience in the squad. That can be an advantage in high-pressure matches, but it also raises the question of balance with younger players. In modern football, a team that wants to play on several fronts must have depth, but too great a concentration of veterans in midfield can be a problem if it is not aligned with intensity, rotation and physical fitness. That is why any possible arrival of Goretzka would have to be part of a clear plan, and not just a reaction to the availability of a big name.
What Goretzka brings on the pitch
Goretzka's football profile is especially interesting because he is neither a classic defensive midfielder nor a pure creator. His greatest value lies in the ability to connect phases of play, enter the penalty area, win duels and give the team additional height from set pieces. With a height of 1.89 meters, listed by Bayern's official website, he brings a physical component that Milan can use both in defense and attack. In the pressing phase he can close space toward opposing midfielders, and in possession he can attack empty zones when the opposing defense drops deep. These are elements that can have great value in Allegri's system, especially if Milan want to be more pragmatic and more competitive in matches against teams of similar quality.
Still, there are also risks. During his career, Goretzka has had periods in which injuries and competition kept him away from continuity. At the age of 31 and with a large number of matches behind him, his physical fitness will be one of the key factors in assessing the transfer. Milan would not be bringing in a young player for development, but a finished product from whom an immediate contribution is expected. That is precisely why the medical examination, workload assessment and rotation plan can be as important as salary negotiations. If all these elements are satisfied, Goretzka could be a reinforcement that brings stability, but if the physical aspect is misjudged, the transfer could become a financial burden.
There is still no official confirmation
The most important thing to emphasize is that as of May 22, 2026, there is no official confirmation from Milan, Bayern or Goretzka's representatives that the deal has been concluded. There are strong media signals, reports of interest and a logical market basis, but a transfer in football is not completed until clubs or the player officially announce an agreement. Gazzetta dello Sport, according to claims carried by other Italian and international portals, writes that Milan are very close to an agreement, while other sources speak of obstacles that still have to be resolved. In such situations, negotiations most often concern details of personal terms, bonuses, commissions and sporting guarantees. For that reason, caution remains necessary, especially in the period before the official opening of the summer market.
If the transfer happens, it would be one of Milan's most high-profile moves in midfield in recent years. It would not be the arrival of a player at the peak of his market value, but of an experienced international who is entering a new phase of his career and is looking for a club where he can maintain a high competitive level. For Bayern, it would mark the end of a long cycle, and for Milan the possible beginning of a differently conceived midfield. San Siro has already seen numerous major transfers of players in the later phase of their careers, some of whom brought experience and a winning mentality, while others remained below expectations. Goretzka would fit into that story as a reinforcement with a big name, but also with clear questions to which only the pitch will provide the answer.
Sources:
- FC Bayern München – official profile of Leon Goretzka, contract data, career and basic player information (link)
- AC Milan – official Serie A 2025/26 table and current position of the team (link)
- AC Milan – official page of the first-team coaching staff and profile of Massimiliano Allegri (link)
- AC Milan – official statement on the arrival of Luka Modrić and the duration of the contract (link)
- Transfermarkt – profile of Leon Goretzka and data on the expiry of his contract with Bayern (link)
- Capology – salary estimates for Leon Goretzka at Bayern, with a note that the data are not official (link)
- Football Italia – report on Milan's interest and Juventus' competition for Goretzka (link)
- Bundesliga – post about Goretzka's farewell to Bayern at the end of the season (link)