Antonio Conte still wants Inter to complete two more signings following the arrivals of Alexis Sanchez and Cristiano Biraghi, according to Tuttosport.

The Nerazzurri’s head coach is looking for another central midfielder and a striker who can provide back-up to Romelu Lukaku.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic remains an unrealistic target in the final week of the transfer window, but Arturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitic are both options at Barcelona.

Spal forward Andrea Petagna is an option to fill the vacancy up front, but Inter have also made approaches for free agents Seydou Doumbia and Wilfried Bony.

Conte has identified Vidal as his preferred choice in midfield, with Beppe Marotta unable to meet Lazio’s €70 million asking price for Milinkovic-Savic at this stage of the window.

Rakitic seems more likely to leave Barcelona than his Chilean teammate, though, and was the first player Marotta and Piero Ausilio identified as an ideal profile to reinforce their squad.

Inter would have to beat off competition from Juventus to secure a deal for the 2018 World Cup finalist, but Rakitic is one of the few players on the way out of Europe’s big clubs in the final week of the market and is therefore inevitably in high demand.

The Croatian would represent a safer option for Inter because they would not risk repeating their experience with Radja Nainggolan, as TS suggested they could with Vidal.

In any case, Marotta and Ausilio have slightly larger financial resources with which to chase one of Barca’s outgoing midfielders after Flamengo confirmed their intention to sign Gabriel Barbosa for €18 million.

Inter will reserve a percentage on any future transfer fee the Brazilian side receive for the 22-year-old striker.

Gabigol has scored 16 goals in 20 matches for Jorge Jesus’ side this season and seems set to stay there beyond the termination of his loan deal on 31 December.