Christopher Nkunku

Key strength: Link-up play

Target man

Sitting third in Serie A and navigating choppy waters—just two wins from their last five—AC Milan have found their unlikely salvation weapon. Christopher Nkunku, the €35 million French import from RB Leipzig, has transformed into Italy's most expensive super-sub, wielding devastating efficiency from the bench. With six goals and three assists across 25 appearances—yet only 1,146 minutes to his name—Nkunku delivers a direct goal contribution every 127 minutes he graces the pitch. When the Rossoneri desperately needed inspiration against Bologna, his cool-headed assist kept Scudetto dreams flickering. Now valued at €32 million, the 28-year-old striker offers Stefano Pioli a luxury few rivals possess: a certified match-winner content to bide his time, then strike with lethal precision. In a tight title race where margins are everything, Nkunku embodies the squad depth separating contenders from pretenders—maximum impact, minimal fuss, whenever that number flashes on the fourth official's board.