There's little doubt that AC Milan needs an influx of new defensive talent this summer, after a spotty 2014 2015 season. The football club performed admirably on the offensive side of things this year, with forward Jeremy Menez scoring 16 goals to become Serie A's fifth most prolific scorer. AC also scored more goals throughout the season than the league runners-up at Roma, netting 56 goals compared to Roma's 51. But where Roma kept a goal difference of +23 by only allowing 31 goals, AC Milan let 50 balls into the net for a low GD of +6. But this week it is confirmed that AC Milan miss out on Dani Alves, who else could they sign?
Dani Alves
Unsurprisingly, AC Milan are targeting defensive players as the summer transfer window heats up. However, the soccer club's first big target, Barcelona's Dani Alves, has turned out to be a dud. Alves recently signed a contract that will keep him at Camp Nou for another two years, spurning the interests of both Milan and Manchester United.
Alves would have been a good pick to don the AC Milan home jersey 2015 2016 next season. At Barcelona, he's been a part of two treble victories (the La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League)-something very few players can claim. This year, he was a key cog in Barca's impressive defense, making 30 appearances in league play and 46 overall.
Meanwhile, FC Barcelona ended the 2014 2015 La Liga campaign with a goal difference of +89, scoring 110 goals and only allowing 21. Of all the soccer squads in the La Liga, the Premier League, the Bundesliga, the Serie A, the Ligue 1, and the Dutch Eredivisie, only Germany's Bayern Munich had a better defensive record-with just 18 goals against. Needless to say, if AC Milan want to build a better defense for the 2015 2016 campaign, then Barca is a good place to look.
Possible Alternatives
Unfortunately, now that Dani Alves has signed a new contract with Barcelona (and who could blame him, after that club's recent successes), it's back to square one for AC Milan as far as transfers are concerned. 
So who are the alternatives that the team should be targeting? Which players-defenders, in particular-would make a good fit for the AC Milan football jersey in 2015 2016?
One of the best alternatives, sadly, has already been snatched up-and by Barcelona, no less. The La Liga champions signed Sevilla's Aleix Vidal-a right back with attacking skills, just like Alves-on June 7th. It's unclear why Barca needs both of these players, but AC Milan obviously won't be able to get their hands on either of them.
Another alternative would be for AC Milan to develop the young defenders they already have, like 22-year-old Mattia De Sciglio, a right back who only got 13 appearances during the 2014 2015 season, and try to build an even more prolific offense. That appears to be the path that AC Milan are considering at the moment, after the club's former star striker, PSG's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, made comments indicating that he would be interested in returning to his old football club.
Ibrahimovic was arguably the face of the AC Milan football club during the 2010 2011 and 2011 2012 seasons, leading the team in goals and helping secure finishes at or near the top of the table. (AC won the Serie A title in 2011, and finished second in 2012.) He's been just as pivotal in Paris over the past three seasons, averaging 35 goals a season (overall), and leading PSG to three straight Ligue 1 titles.
Paris Saint Germain, of course, will be adamant about holding on to Ibrahimovic. The Swedish soccer star originally signed a three-year contract with PSG, but agreed to a one-year extension in 2013 that will likely keep him in France for another year. But with Zlatan clearly interested in going back to Italy, it might be in PSG's best interest to shoot for a big transfer fee from AC Milan right now instead. After all, at 33, Ibrahimovic's best years are likely behind him, and since he could leave PSG for nothing in a year, the French champions might want to think strategically and capitalize on Milan's desire to sign him.
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