Inter are likely to be priced out of a last-minute deal to sign Spal striker Andrea Petagna, according to Tuttosport.

Petagna is the preferred option for both Antonio Conte and Inter’s management as they seek an understudy to Romelu Lukaku.

Beppe Marotta, Piero Ausilio and Dario Baccin held talks with the forward’s agent Giuseppe Riso on Wednesday, but a deal is thought to be anything but straightforward.

Spal value Petagna, who scored 16 goals last season, at around €25 million because they consider him a vital player for Leonardo Semplici’s side, having already rejected a €15 million offer from Leeds in July.

Inter are also monitoring free agents Wilfried Bony and Seydou Doumbia while outgoing Sassuolo strikers Alessandro Matri and Khouma Babacar may be two new options.

In any case, the Nerazzurri would need to sell another player first in order to create space in their squad, with Borja Valero and Matteo Politano both potential candidates to leave.

Conte also wants another central midfielder before Monday’s transfer deadline but Arturo Vidal appears increasingly difficult to sign from Barcelona.

Ivan Rakitic’s involvement in a potential deal to bring Neymar back from Paris Saint-Germain means the Chilean is expected to stay in Spain now.

TS assured Inter would have ‘an Everest to climb’ to sign Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Lazio, suggesting it would be easier for them to get either Blaise Matuidi or Emre Can from Juventus in a deal for Mauro Icardi.

Verona’s Daniel Bessa represents a much simpler option, with the added bonus of being eligible for a homegrown slot in Conte’s Champions League squad list.