Chukwueze Faces Uncertain Future as Amorim Arrives at Milan

Samuel Chukwueze is back at AC Milan. Fulham held a purchase option of up to 26 million euros and chose not to use it. Now the Super Eagles attacker finds himself returning to a club that is itself in the middle of a significant reset, one that could either offer him a fresh start or accelerate his exit from San Siro for good, as reported by FootballInNigeria.com.ng.

AC Milan confirmed Ruben Amorim as their new head coach this week, handing the Portuguese a two year contract with an option for a third year. The appointment came after a dismal 2025/26 campaign in which Massimiliano Allegri’s side finished fifth in Serie A, missing out on UEFA Champions League qualification entirely. Allegri was dismissed in May alongside several senior figures at the club. Amorim, who left Manchester United in January 2026 after a troubled spell at Old Trafford, now inherits the challenge of returning one of Italian football’s biggest clubs to the top table.

For Chukwueze, the timing of this appointment could not be more complicated.

The Tactical Problem Amorim Creates for Chukwueze

Amorim built his reputation at Sporting CP with a rigid 3-4-3 shape in which orthodox wingers rarely feature. Width in his system comes from attacking wing-backs who are expected to press hard, track back, and cover significant ground in both directions. The two supporting attackers who operate behind the striker function in narrower central pockets rather than stretching the pitch from the flanks. It is a structure that rewards intelligence, verticality, and defensive work rate above all else.

Chukwueze’s game is built on almost the opposite profile. He is a direct, one versus one winger who cuts inside from the right onto his stronger left foot. That profile has worked at Villarreal, shown flashes at AC Milan and produced decent numbers during his loan at Fulham, where he contributed three goals and four assists in 23 appearances under Marco Silva. The crowded central corridors of Amorim’s system are not where a player of his skillset naturally thrives, and the defensive demands of the wing-back role fall well outside his established habits.

Italian football specialist Luca Cerchione has reported that AC Milan view Chukwueze as a sellable asset this summer, though the club’s position is that they will only let him leave if a suitable offer arrives. His situation is notably different from those of Rafael Leao, Youssouf Fofana and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who are all considered surplus to requirements with no real discussion needed. Chukwueze at least remains a player with a market and a valuation Milan want to protect.

Super Eagles fans who want to back Nigerian players in European football this summer can check the Bet9ja’s YOHAIG promo code ahead of the transfer window’s busiest weeks.

The Fulham Complication and Milan’s Negotiating Position

The story of how Chukwueze ended up back at San Siro is instructive. Fulham were genuinely interested in keeping him permanently. The player himself expressed a desire to stay in London, having settled into life at Craven Cottage and found his feet under a manager who trusted him. But the fee proved the sticking point. Milan’s asking price was in the region of 25 to 26 million euros. Fulham pushed to bring that figure down. No agreement was reached before the option expired, and Chukwueze returned to Italy without a new home.

Reports now indicate that Milan are still in dialogue with Fulham about a possible reduced fee, with figures between 20 and 26 million euros being discussed. The arrival of Amorim changes Milan’s leverage. A player who doesn’t fit the new manager’s system becomes harder to justify holding onto, and harder to negotiate a top price for. The longer this drags into pre-season without resolution, the more Chukwueze’s value risks being eroded by the simple fact of his tactical misalignment with what Amorim wants to build.

With two years remaining on his Milan contract, the club can’t afford to let this drift indefinitely. A player who doesn’t play doesn’t improve, doesn’t increase in value, and eventually leaves on less favourable terms. For Chukwueze at 27, the next move could define the arc of his career.

Fans eager to track Serie A and the summer transfer window can stay ahead of the action with the Bet9ja bonus code ahead of the 2026/27 European season.

Is There Any Route Back Into Amorim’s Plans?

It would be premature to write Chukwueze off entirely at Milan. Amorim transformed Francisco Trincao and Marcus Edwards at Sporting CP into productive attackers within his 3-4-3 system, both of them left footed forwards who started wide before learning to operate in tighter central spaces. Chukwueze has shown he can play as an inside forward for the Super Eagles under Eric Chelle. He scored against Jamaica in the Unity Cup final in 2025 and provided the assist for Victor Osimhen’s goal in Nigeria’s 4-0 World Cup qualifying win over Benin Republic, both from a narrower attacking position.

The question is whether Amorim sees Chukwueze as a conversion project worth his time and attention during a rebuild that has bigger structural priorities to address. The new Milan boss has already identified Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand and forward Francisco Trincao as his primary transfer targets, putting him in direct competition with Manchester United and Manchester City for signatures. His attention in the coming weeks will be on bringing his own players in, not reinventing the ones already there.

Chukwueze will have pre-season to make his case. But for a player whose best football comes from width and one versus one situations, the shape Amorim brings to San Siro looks like a significant headwind, not an opportunity. The most likely outcome of this summer remains a sale, with Fulham still the most credible destination if a fee can finally be agreed, as reported by FootballInNigeria.com.ng.

Supporters who want to follow Chukwueze’s transfer saga and back European clubs across this window can find a clear breakdown at this Bet9ja’s current promo code guide before the season kicks off.