Antonio Conte Wants Reassurance Inter Won’t Sell Key Players, Italian Media Report

Antonio Conte has a three-point plan to help Inter defend their Serie A title, according to a report in the Italian media today.

Gazzetta dello Sport’s print edition said Conte was already focusing on how to secure the club’s 20th scudetto after their 19th arrived on Sunday.

Conte wants Inter to keep all their key players in the summer, adjust the squad where there are gaps and be clear with everyone about what the Nerazzurri’s objectives are for the 2021-22 campaign.

These are the most important issues he will discuss with Inter’s directors and owners Suning when they meet for talks, which are due to be held as soon as Steven Zhang has sorted the club’s financial matters.

Conte will ask Inter to protect the spine of his team by not selling Romelu Lukaku, Lautaro Martinez, Achraf Hakimi, Nicolo Barella or Alessandro Bastoni, the report continued.

Inter will then seek the reinforcements they need on the transfer market, such as a back-up to Samir Handanovic who can eventually become his successor in goal.

Udinese’s Juan Musso is Inter’s preferred choice but Hellas Verona’s Marco Silvestri is a more realistic target, the Milan-based paper explained.

Inter also want ‘another Hakimi’ to play at left wing-back and that could be either Emerson Palmieri or Marcos Alonso at Chelsea, but Filip Kostic is another name to keep an eye on at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Conte will need another striker too, who can provide better back-up to Lukaku than Andrea Pinamonti has this season.

Edin Dzeko is a possible option with the Bosnian expected to leave Roma in the summer, but Inter could well opt for a younger profile.