Milan Consider Loaning Out Krzysztof Piatek in January After Indifferent Start to Season

Milan could decide to send ​Krzysztof Piatek out on loan in January if the striker fails to start scoring in his next five Serie A games, with the club unhappy at the Pole's start to the season.

The 24-year-old only joined the Rossoneri from Genoa in January 2019 for a fee of €35m, and hit the ground running at San Siro with nine goals in his first 18 league matches - although in the last three months he found the back of the net just four times.

The goals have continued to dry up since, with Piatek only scoring three times in 12 ​Serie A outings this season. That contrasts with his international record, however, where he's bagged four goals and registered an assist in eight Euro 2020 qualifying matches for Poland, including scoring in Saturday night's win over Israel.

Nevertheless, according to ​​La Gazzetta dello Sport​, the club have issued Piatek with something akin to an ultimatum, insisting he needs to start scoring during the next month or risk being loaned out during the January window.

One of the clubs he could move to is former side Genoa, who earned their largest-ever transfer fee when they sold the Pole to ​Milan less than a year ago. Genoa are certainly in with a shout to re-sign Piatek, after seeing young striker Christian Kouame rupture his anterior cruciate ligament while away on international duty with Ivory Coast.

The Italian publication also mention the possibility of Zlatan Ibrahimovic joining, which would severely hinder first-team opportunities for Piatek at the club, in what could be a busy month for Stefano Pioli's side.

While struggles in front of goal have done little to help Milan this season, all over the pitch there are areas for concern for Pioli. Just four wins from 12 Serie A games, and with a -5 goal difference, the club are enduring a torrid run of form that has left them hovering just four points above the relegation zone.