Inter’s defensive wall will not be crumbling during this summer’s transfer window, according to a report in the Italian media today.
As per Gazzetta dello Sport‘s online edition, barring any shock offers, centre-backs Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni will remain at the club and are all ready to extend their contracts with the Nerazzurri.
Antonio Conte has found the perfect trio on which to build Inter’s Serie A title bid, having struggled for defensive solidity earlier in the campaign.
All three should start again for Sunday’s crunch match at home to Lazio, although one report on Thursday did suggest Conte was considering resting Bastoni ahead of the following weekend’s Milan derby.
The Milanese publication claimed Danilo D’Ambrosio and Matteo Darmian were also set to stay at Inter, with the latter having made his move from Parma permanent at the start of this month.
It is unlikely, however, that Inter will offer a new deal to Aleksandar Kolarov, who is out of contract in the summer, while Andrea Ranocchia’s future is also uncertain.
While Kolarov seems certain to move on after an unsuccessful season, Ranocchia may be allowed to choose his own future.
The Italian defender earns substantially less than Kolarov – €1.8 million annually compared to €3 million – and is regarded as an important figure in Conte’s dressing room.
In any case, Ranocchia would be allowed to leave if he wished to move to a mid-table side or overseas in search of greater game time.