Milan Skriniar will start for Inter in their trip to play Benevento this evening as he becomes increasingly likely to stay at the club, according to Wednesday’s print edition of Tuttosport.
Tottenham were strongly linked with a move for the centre-back and made an offer of €30 million plus add-ons, but they have yet to return with an improved bid.
Beppe Marotta and Piero Ausilio have given Antonio Conte the all-clear to name Skriniar in his starting XI alongside Stefan De Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni.
Spurs could submit an improved offer after selling defender Juan Foyth to fellow Premier League outfit Fulham for €10 million, but time is running out for the clubs to agree a deal for the Slovak.
Tuttosport also reported Andrea Ranocchia will stay at Inter this season, despite talks for the centre-back to move to Genoa before the transfer window closes.
Alessandro Bastoni did not convince the Nerazzurri’s directors while deputising for De Vrij in the centre of defence against Fiorentina on Saturday, meaning the 32-year-old will be kept as back-up instead.
Meanwhile, Matteo Darmian is expected to arrive in Milan for a medical tomorrow before joining from Parma on a four-year deal worth €2 million annually.
The Italian could make his final appearance for the Gialloblu against Verona on Sunday but he is certain to sign for Inter before Monday’s deadline.
Inter could bring in Darmian’s team-mate Gervinho if Andrea Pinamonti leaves before then, while Radja Nainggolan and Matias Vecino are on the way out towards Cagliari and Napoli respectively, with the club looking to make room in midfield for Chelsea’s Ngolo Kante.
The Nerazzurri will concentrate on new deals for De Vrij and Lautaro Martinez once the transfer window is shut.
