Milan’s Renewed Pursuit
AC Milan are reportedly intensifying their efforts to bolster their leadership structure, with renewed attempts to secure the services of former Eintracht Frankfurt sporting CEO Markus Krösche and current Frankfurt sporting director Timmo Hardung. The Serie A giants are currently without a sporting director and are keen to fill the vacant position.
Reports from Italy and Germany indicate that Milan have reached an agreement in principle with Krösche regarding his salary. However, a significant hurdle remains: Eintracht Frankfurt may seek a compensation fee of between €5 million and €7 million if Krösche takes up a new role before the summer of 2027. Milan are reportedly unwilling to pay this amount for a director, though negotiations are expected to continue.
Compensation and Previous Attempts
Krösche departed his role as sporting CEO at Eintracht Frankfurt in September. His potential move to San Siro marks a renewed pursuit by Milan, who had previously attempted to bring both Krösche and Hardung to the club in June. Those earlier efforts followed a significant shake-up at Milan, which saw sporting director Igli Tare, technical director Geoffrey Moncada, and CEO Giorgio Furlani dismissed the day after the 2025-26 season concluded.
The initial summer pursuit was ultimately unsuccessful, as Eintracht Frankfurt were reluctant to release their executives so close to the start of the transfer window. There were concerns that their departure would disrupt plans already in place for the upcoming season.
Meanwhile, Milan are also hoping to bring Timmo Hardung to San Siro. Unlike Krösche, Hardung is still employed by the Bundesliga side as their sporting director. His potential departure from Frankfurt could depend on the choices made by Krösche’s replacement at the German club.
Current Club Structure
Milan’s current leadership structure includes Hendrick Almstadt, who serves as the director of player trading, primarily responsible for negotiating transfers and contracts. Bobby Gardiner holds the role of director of football intelligence, focusing on the identification and analysis of potential transfer targets. The addition of a dedicated sporting director is seen as a crucial step in shaping the club’s future strategy and transfer dealings.