Andrea Pinamonti has moved closer to joining Benevento on loan after Crotone withdrew their interest for the striker, according to reports in Italy tonight.
As per FcInterNews.it, the Italy under-21 international was one of three Inter-owned players to interest the newly-promoted club last summer, along with Sebastiano Esposito and Lucien Agoume.
But Crotone are unwilling to complete any deal for Pinamonti that would see them obliged to pay for the striker’s services, even a loan deal with a mandatory purchase clause if they were to stay in Serie A.
Pinamonti is therefore set to join Benevento for the remainder of the season, albeit the report did not offer further details on when a deal is expected to be agreed with Inter.
Antonio Conte wants a more experienced fourth-choice striker to act as back-up for Romelu Lukaku but it is widely thought the Nerazzurri need to offload Pinamonti first to create room on their wage bill.
However, reports earlier on Monday also suggested that Conte would not let Pinamonti leave until he had reassurances over a replacement arriving, in order to avoid remaining short up front, so it remains to be seen how the rest of the January transfer window will play out.
