AC MILAN THE LAUGHING STOCK OF JANUARY WINDOW

Already Serie A's big under-achievers this season, seven-time European champions A.C. Milan find themselves in ninth place with a horribly inconsistent record of seven wins, seven draws and seven defeats. Not only that, they face Diego Simeone's on-form Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last 16 later this month with little realistic chance of defeating the rampant Rojiblancos who find themselves valiantly battling Barcelona and Real Madrid for the La Liga crown. To make matters worse for Milan, their activity in this past transfer window can be seen by some of their fans as a cruel joke.

Clarence Seedorf, with no experience of management or coaching whatsoever, has taken over the managerial reigns at San Siro and has not got off to a great start. They were eliminated from the Coppa Italia by struggling Udinese and there doesn't seem to be any miraculous change in their league performances with results largely hindering on volatile Mario Balotelli's form up-front. They have brought in two new players to add to their rag-tag bunch of mismatched former stars. Michael Essien joins from Chelsea whilst bizarrely, they have also snapped up Q.P.R.'s Adel Taraabt on a six-month loan despite spending the first half of the season at Fulham on another loan, being his sometimes promising but typically inconsistent self.

Milan already have plenty of creaking, elderly former superstars - the likes of Robinho, Philippe Mexes and Kaka spring to mind - and Essien adds to this almost ironically. Here is a player who was once considered one of the best midfielders in the world some years back before being struck with several long term injuries that have left him a mere shadow of his former self. Jose Mourinho attempted to revive him last season by taking him to Real Madrid on loan where he did not impress. This season, Essien has not had games at Chelsea under the Portuguese so it's clear that even his good friend does not rate him anymore.

Taarabt joins in a loan deal that has raised many eyebrows. Having only started a handful of times for Fulham, the creative Moroccan midfielder is not expected to set the world alight in Italy. His career is littered with spells at various clubs where he never quite broke through because despite his technical ability, huge questions remain over his attitude and tactical discipline.

Milan are truly clutching at straws here. Money appears to be tight so the possibility of getting in legitimate world class players is not there but by bringing in the likes of worn-out Essien and perplexing Taarabt in the short term, Milan are setting themselves up for mid-table mediocrity. Perhaps they have expected this this season but not challenging for anything might open the door for developing young players they already have pinned down to longer-term contracts. Essien and Taarabt will interfere with the likes of Bryan Cristante, Stephan El Shaarawy and Riccardo Saponara's development, three young players they could actually nurture rather than catering for a has-been and a problem child. Rossoneri fans would love to be proven wrong but realistically, things appear grim for them at the moment.

D. Ray Morton, 1st February 2014.