Calcio Debate: Which Striker Should AC Milan Buy?

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Samuel Eto'o (PA)

AC Milan have already lost their most prized asset Kaka to Real Madrid and have also let the man who could have replaced him -Yoann Gourcuff- return to France. Their star striker and most consistent player last season, Alexandre Pato, was reportedly set to reunite with Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea but now those fears have been allayed and Milan are in the market to sign a world class striker who could partner the 19-year-old Brazilian international.

Pato would be the main hitman for next season but who would play alongside him? Below we look at some of the forwards available in the transfer market for Milan to sign.

1. Edin Dzeko (VfL Wolfsburg): Milan's prospective first choice striker this summer, Edin Dzeko, has just come off a sensational season in which he scored 26 goals and gave six assists to lead Wolfsburg to the league championship. Dzeko is a fantastic player with marvelous accuracy and can score from virtually anywhere. At one point Milan did manage to convince Dzeko but Wolfsburg have sternly refused to listen to any offer for the 23-year-old, who with his clinical finishing and superb positioning would be a great asset for the Rossoneri.

2. Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal): Adebayor had a brilliant season for Arsenal in 2007-2008 but was a major disappointment last term. Adebayor can be a good targetman and as he showed against Villarreal in the Champions League he is capable of scoring the odd sensational goal; but he is 25 and is yet to completely convince. Adebayor is malignantly inconsistent but he can give Milan an aerial advantage.

3. Luis Fabiano (Sevilla): Maybe not a world-class striker but Luis Fabiano's ability to find goals on a regular basis for Sevilla and for Brazil make him a very capable player. The 28-year-old has been excellent for Sevilla over the years and a move to Milan in a World Cup year could just propel his game to a higher level. Fabiano is a team player and would combine well with compatriots Pato and Ronaldinho.

4. Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona): It's Inter and not Milan who have been linked with Samuel Eto'o but Adriano Galliani and co might well try and give it a shot. The Cameroonian is apparently on his way out of Camp Nou and although Manchester City have the monetary power to lure the Barcelona striker to England, Milan's Champions League carrot could be used to attract the second best striker in Europe to Serie A.

5. Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli): If Aurelio De Laurentiis is to be believed, then Ezequiel Lavezzi is a bad character who takes the night life rather too boisterously. But if the Serie A matches in which the 24-year-old has featured so far are to be believed, then he is a superb talent who needs to move to a bigger club to take his game to a higher level. Well built and gifted with pace, the former San Lorenzo striker has been a revelation for Napoli over the past two seasons and has hinted that he would like to leave this summer.

6. Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria): Signing Antonio Cassano would solve all of Milan's problems upfront as the mercurial 26-year-old not only scores goals but creates them too. Last season he was one of the best Italian players in Serie A, had the second highest number of assists to his name and was the most fouled player. 'Peter Pan' is only now starting to fulfil his ferocious talent but his unpredictable nature and difficult character would not be very conducive for the Milan dressing room. Although Cassano is brilliant with the ball, at times off the ball he can and does get cold feet.

7. David Trezeguet (Juventus): Milan had been linked with Juventus striker David Trezeguet earlier and although the Frenchman's agent has dismissed a summer departure, there could still be a chance that the 31-year-old moves out of Turin. Trezegol would be a perfect targetman for Milan and although he was not in his best form last season, Trezeguet’s Serie A experience would be a good addition to Leonardo’s side.

8. David Villa (Valencia): David Villa is arguably the best striker in Europe and is every club's dream signing. But the problem is that the Spanish international has already made it clear that he wants to play on in the Spanish Primera Division. Moreover, Milan would not be able to cough up the required amount that Valencia want for the 27-year-old. Villa would be a great addition to the Milan side and would guarantee the goals Milan require to win the Serie A next season.

9. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Real Madrid): Real Madrid’s January recruit Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is on his way out of the Bernabeu. The 25-year-old has been a prolific goalscorer in the Dutch league and 8 goals in 13 league starts for Madrid are reasonably good. The 'Hunter' has the Ruud van Nistelrooy-esque clinical finishing ability and with Ronaldinho feeding him with the ball, the Dutchman would be certain of getting enough chances.

10. Peter Crouch (Portsmouth): We had to include the Robot King, following the shock reports last night that Milan were lineing up a move for the 28-year-old. While the speculation is only speculation at the moment, Crouch is surely not a viable option. Is he?

Writer's Choice:

Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona): Samuel Eto'o can be a very difficult person to deal with, but the 28-year-old is also a very difficult striker to play against, refusing to score fewer than 30 goals every season. Eto'o has been one of the most consistent strikers in Spain over the past four or five years and with his athleticism, work ethic and clinical finishing would be the perfect striker for Milan. Eto'o guarantees goals galore at the San Siro and although he might not share a very healthy relationship with Ronaldinho off the pitch, on the pitch the duo combine perfectly.

Subhankar Mondal, Goal.com