Milan Circle Back for Hardung as Krösche Agreement in Principle Takes Shape

FolioPitch.com – 28 October 2026 | AC Milan have reignited their pursuit of Eintracht Frankfurt‘s football operations, with Wednesday’s reports indicating that Milan circle back for Hardung and have agreement in principle with Krösche, setting the stage for a sweeping overhaul of the club’s sporting hierarchy at San Siro. The Rossoneri are once again attempting to prise sporting director Timmo Hardung from the Bundesliga side while simultaneously working to finalise a deal with Markus Krösche, who vacated his position as sporting CEO at Eintracht in September.

The development carries a strong sense of déjà vu. Milan first attempted to bring both men to Italy back in June, shortly after dismissing sporting director Igli Tare, technical director Geoffrey Moncada and CEO Giorgio Furlani the day after the 2025-26 season concluded. Those weeks of negotiations ultimately came to nothing, as Eintracht Frankfurt refused to release their executives so close to the start of the summer transfer window, fearing that their departures would derail plans already in motion for the 2026-27 campaign.

Krösche Deal Edges Closer Despite Compensation Standoff

The landscape has shifted considerably since then. Krösche has since left his role as sporting CEO in Frankfurt, and reports from both Italy and Germany suggest his next destination is increasingly likely to be Milan. According to SportMediaset, the two parties already have an agreement in principle in place over salary terms, clearing one of the major hurdles in the negotiation.

The remaining obstacle is financial. Eintracht Frankfurt believe they are entitled to compensation in the region of €5m to €7m should Krösche take up another position before the summer of 2027. Milan are reportedly reluctant to pay a fee of that magnitude for a director, and the club is expected to continue negotiating in an effort to find a compromise. The standoff underlines the growing complexity of executive recruitment in modern football, where backroom staff are increasingly treated as valuable assets rather than straightforward employees.

Hardung Remains Under Contract in Frankfurt

Unlike Krösche, Hardung is still employed by the Bundesliga outfit as things stand. However, sources suggest he could be permitted to leave depending on the choices made by Krösche’s eventual replacement in Frankfurt, a scenario that keeps the door ajar for Milan. The fact that Milan circle back for Hardung and have agreement in principle with Krösche reflects a deliberate strategy to rebuild the club’s sporting department with a proven, Bundesliga-tested tandem.

Hardung has built a reputation in Germany as a meticulous operator with a sharp eye for squad construction and talent identification, qualities that Milan’s ownership view as essential to restoring the club’s competitive standing both domestically and in Europe.

A Sporting Department in Transition

Milan currently find themselves without a sporting director, a vacuum that has placed additional responsibility on the shoulders of Hendrick Almstadt, who serves as director of player trading and is largely responsible for negotiating transfers and contracts. Alongside him, Bobby Gardiner operates as director of football intelligence, focusing on the identification and analysis of potential transfer targets.

The interim structure has functioned adequately, but the club’s leadership is understood to want a more permanent and authoritative figurehead at the top of the sporting pyramid. Bringing in Krösche and Hardung would represent a significant statement of intent, importing a proven working relationship from one of the Bundesliga’s most respected operations.

• Krösche: agreement in principle on salary, but a €5m-€7m compensation dispute with Eintracht remains unresolved.
• Hardung: still under contract in Frankfurt, with his exit dependent on the club’s choice of Krösche’s successor.
• Milan’s current setup: Almstadt handles player trading, Gardiner oversees football intelligence.

What the Double Appointment Would Mean

Should Milan succeed in landing both men, the implications for the club’s recruitment strategy would be considerable. Krösche’s track record in Germany includes a series of astute signings that generated substantial returns, and his appointment would likely signal a more data-driven, long-term approach to squad building at San Siro. Hardung, meanwhile, would bring operational expertise and continuity to the day-to-day running of the sporting department.

The pursuit also highlights the increasingly competitive market for elite football executives. With clubs across Europe recognising the value of strong backroom leadership, figures like Krösche and Hardung have become prized commodities, and compensation demands for their services are rising accordingly.

Conclusion

The saga is far from resolved, with compensation talks and Hardung’s contractual situation still to be navigated. Yet the direction of travel is clear: Milan circle back for Hardung and have agreement in principle with Krösche, and the Rossoneri appear determined to complete a restructuring that they first attempted months ago. If Milan can bridge the financial gap with Eintracht Frankfurt and secure Hardung’s release, the club will have assembled a sporting leadership team with the pedigree to shape its next era. For now, the negotiations continue, and Milan’s supporters will be watching closely as one of Italian football’s most storied clubs moves to rebuild from the boardroom down.