At the moment, AC Milan have the feel of a magnificent space ship stuck on the launch pad or a beautiful Ferrari trapped in the garage.
The Italian giants have enacted their plans to strengthen the team too late and now they are seriously behind.
Sassuolo striker Gianluca Scamacca, for example, who looks to be heading to West Ham, could have been a great acquisition but the funds given to technical director and club legend Paolo Maldini are only enough to buy one top player.
Current owners Elliott Management Corporation and their successors, RedBird Capital, expected to take over by September at the latest, have not provided enough of a transfer budget to suggest they want to sign world-class stars.