Who could replace Pulisic for Milan: Possible 8th different striker combination

Christian Pulisic is a major doubt for Milan approaching their double-header against Lazio over the next few days, and with Santiago Gimenez also unavailable, Massimiliano Allegri is left with a decision to make regarding a strike partner for Rafael Leao.

Pulisic is currently the joint-top goalscorer in Serie A with five goals from his first eight league outings of the season, despite the fact that he missed four games through injury in October and early November.

The USMNT star had only just returned to the Rossoneri starting line-up for the Derby della Madonnina against Inter last weekend. He provided the only goal of the game on that occasion, which sent Milan into second place in the Serie A standings, leapfrogging their city rivals in the process.

NOVEMBER 23: Christian Pulisic celebrates after scoring their team’s first goalduring the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 23, 2025 in San Siro, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Who could replace Pulisic for Milan?

In an unfortunate turn of events, Pulisic is reportedly struggling with another muscular issue, and as was confirmed by Allegri on Thursday, he is a major doubt for Milan’s Serie A match against Lazio on Saturday. The same two teams will meet again in the Coppa Italia on Tuesday night.

Gimenez has also not trained since picking up an ankle issue at the beginning of November, which means that either Christopher Nkunku or Ruben Loftus-Cheek are in line to partner Leao up front for Milan against Lazio on Saturday.

SEPTEMBER 23: Christopher Nkunku inflates a balloon as he celebrates with teammates after scoring to give the side a 2-0 lead during the Coppa Italia Frecciarossa Round of 16 match against US Lecce at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on September 23, 2025 in San Siro, Italy. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)

Leao and Nkunku have started together twice so far this season: A 1-0 win against Roma in which Leao provided an assist, and a 2-2 draw against Parma in which the Portuguese scored.

Leao and Loftus-Cheek have not yet started together at centre-forward for Milan so far this season, but if Allegri were to go for this option, it would be the eighth different combination of strikers that he has deployed so far this season.