AC Milan are heading into the new Serie A season with a squad in flux, as Ruben Amorim makes clear and sometimes surprising decisions about who belongs in his project. The most striking development this week was the Portuguese coach placing Christopher Nkunku on the transfer list, just one year after the Frenchman arrived from Chelsea. Nkunku joins Wesley Fofana and Fikayo Tomori among those Amorim has deemed surplus to requirements, a signal that the rebuild is moving faster and more ruthlessly than many expected.

The squad picture is further complicated by a Rafael Leao injury. The Portuguese winger, whose future at the club has been uncertain all summer, will miss the friendly against Manchester United on August 15 and faces a race to be fit for the league opener at Torino on August 23. His absence is a blow, though Amorim also reversed course on Ruben Loftus-Cheek this week, removing the Englishman from the list of players available for sale despite him being widely considered a certain departure.

Off the pitch, goalkeeper Mike Maignan is not due back at Milanello until August 16 following his post-World Cup break, leaving him just one week to prepare before competitive football begins. Ismael Bennacer's contract has been officially terminated after seven years, while Tijani Reijnders' sale to Al Qadsiah, which generated a reported profit of 41.9 million euros, has provided financial room to manoeuvre. The transfer window remains active, and Amorim's willingness to make bold calls suggests more movement is likely before it closes.