AC Milan: 11 Things That Must Be Done for Milan to Regain Title

AC Milan came close to managing an Italian repeat last season, but a Juventus team that would not lose kept the Milanese club at bay.

This summer, Milan has completely changed. The era of rebuilding on the red side of the San Siro is in full swing, with the club opting to sell major stars Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva, as well as allowing the majority of those 34 or older to leave the side.

Youth will be a massive part of the future for AC Milan, and here are 11 things that the club will have to address in order for them to have a chance at returning to the top of the Serie A table.

Thiago Silva is gone. It is now up to the club to find new solidarity in the heart of the defense amongst Philippe Mexes, Daniele Bonera, youngster Francesco Acerbi and veteran Mario Yepes.

Bonera and Yepes will most likely start in the season opener, but it will be interesting to see who rises to the top now that the Brazilian star is gone.

The return of Kaka has been a major transfer rumor for the last few weeks since the completion of both the Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva deals.

Football Italia claims that AC Milan representatives have flown to the United States to discuss making a move for the former midfield ace.

However, if the deal is going to happen, it needs to be done now. The arrival of Riccardo Montolivo this summer shows the club is moving forward, but his position could be in jeopardy depending on a move for Kaka.

If AC Milan are going to cash in on their more veteran players this summer, then Robinho also needs to be included in the exodus.

Although it may sound like a bad idea, the Brazilian can be a poor presence in the locker room, and at the age of 28, he may still have enough life in him to entice a nice cash influx.

With youngster Stephan El-Shaarawy showing great signs of progress, he should start to see more time out wide for the club.

Stephan El-Shaarawy has proved to be a massive young talent, and Italy is a country where young players can thrive in the first teams of big clubs if the given the chance.

Even though he is just 19 years old, the young Italian U21 international has great chemistry with the likes of Kevin-Prince Boateng and the rest of the attacking squad, and is ready to shoulder a full-time role in the first team.

Before the departures of Filippo Inzaghi, Gennaro Gattuso, Mark Van Bommel, Gianluca Zambrotta and Slerance Seedorf, AC Milan looked like the oldest club in Italy—and possibly Europe.

With much of the aging core now out of the way, it is time for the club's youngsters, such as Urby Emanuelson, Stephan El-Shaaraway, Rodney Strasser and Alexandre Pato, to take center stage.

This shouldn't be too hard, since Ibrahimovic is gone. However, it is high time the club start to rely on their creative abilities, rather than their one big ball stop of a weapon up front.

Robinho has not been the spark he once was and could be a player that Milan considers selling. The abilities of Antonio Nocerino, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Riccardo Montolivo and Sulley Muntari are going to be the lifeblood of the attack. They will be able to create better link-play without Ibrahimovic at the top.

If the Rossenari want to have one of the best attacks in Italy, then the creation of midfield play has to be able to flow through both Ricardo Montolivo and Antonio Nocerino.

The two Italian internationals will be most effective for Milan if given free reign in the middle of the park. With a fresh new season ahead, there is no harm in letting them loose for a match or two in the beginning to see what they can develop into together.

Massimiliano Allegri is the man who changed the club's players and playing style after Leonard's departure.

Allegri also led the club to the 2010-11 Italian double and brought them close to a league repeat, as the club finished second only to undefeated Juventus.

This summer, he has changed the side more than ever, and his ability to lead will be tested to the max.

Although Brazilian forward Alexandre Pato is capable of leading the Milan line by himself, there is always room for a little extra help.

Veteran Italian international Antonio Cassano will be the primary partner for Pato in the beginning of the season, but there should be a new signing for the club given their massive influx of cash in the last few weeks.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

The era of Zlatan Ibrahimovic is over. It is time for the club to back Alexandre Pato as their future line leader.

The Brazilian youngster has already proved how much skill and talent he has. The club needs to show some faith in him to get the most out of his ability this season.

German-born Ghanaian international Kevin-Prince Boateng has shown he has all the skills to become one of the best in the world.

Now that he is healthy, the need for attacking creativity has never been greater due to the loss of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

It is time for the Prince to put his head down and become what many believe he can be—one of the greatest attacking midfielders in the game.

He can play on either side of the pitch with class, and his ability to both pick out a pass or score a great individual goal needs to be exploited for the better of the club.