Milan circle back for Hardung and have agreement in principle with Krösche
HAMBURG, GERMANY - DECEMBER 20: Timmo Hardung, sporting Director of Eintracht Frankfurt looks on during the Bundesliga match between Hamburger SV and Eintracht Frankfurt at Volksparkstadion on December 20, 2025 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Selim Sudheimer/Getty Images)
Wednesday’s reports indicate that Milan are again attempting to pinch Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Timmo Hardung as they continue to negotiate with Markus Krösche, who left his position as sporting CEO of the Bundesliga side in September.
Déjà vu: Milan want Hardung to join Krösche in directorship role
Milan had made attempts to bring Krösche and Hardung to San Siro back in June, after dismissing sporting director Igli Tare, technical director Geoffrey Moncada and CEO Giorgio Furlani the day after the 2025-26 season ended.
Despite weeks of negotiations, Milan’s summer pursuit was ultimately unsuccessful, as Eintracht Frankfurt were unwilling to release their executives so close to the start of the summer transfer window, with fears that their departure would scupper plans that were already in place for the 2026-27 season.
Krösche has since left his position as sporting CEO of Eintracht Frankfurt, and according to reports from various sources in both Italy and Germany, his next post looks set to be with Milan.
According to reports from SportMediaset, Milan and Krösche already have an agreement in principle in place over a salary, but the bigger issue is the fact that Eintracht Frankfurt feel they are entitled to compensation of around €5m-€7m if Krösche is to take up another job before the summer of 2027. Milan are reportedly unwilling to pay this sort of fee for a director but are expected to continue negotiating.
Meanwhile, Wednesday’s report adds that Milan are also hoping to bring Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Hardung to San Siro as well.
Unlike Krösche, Hardung is still employed by the Bundesliga side as things stand, but he could be allowed to leave depending on the choices of Krösche’s replacement at Frankfurt.
Milan are currently without a sporting director, but have Hendrick Almstadt in the role of director of player trading, largely responsible for negotiating transfers and contracts, and Bobby Gardiner in the role of director of football intelligence, largely responsible for the identification and analysis of potential transfer targets.
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