After securing the Serie A title, Inter have begun planning for the transfer window and coach Antonio Conte’s ideal signing would be Manchester United’s Paul Pogba, although a deal is unlikely.
As reported in today’s newspaper edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, President Steven Zhang is set to finalise budgets for the summer but funds are thought to be thin, as Inter battle financial uncertainty.
The Nerazzurri will look to clear funds by lowering the wage bill, and high-earning players who have made little impact will be moved on if possible, including defender Aleksandar Kolarov and midfielder Arturo Vidal.
There is also a risk that a key player may need to be sold to balance the books, although efforts will be made to sell abroad if necessary.
Conte’s priorities to strengthen his squad for the defence of the title remain a winger and a back-up striker, although he will push for two if Alexis Sanchez is sold.
However, the coach would ideally like to bring in a high-profile central midfielder and remains interested in Manchester United’s Pogba, having worked with the Frenchman at Juventus.
Inter’s financial constraints make such a deal almost impossible, although CEO Beppe Marotta had made an approach for Pogba in 2019 after Conte’s arrival.
Similarly, any hopes of landing Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic are now thought to be unrealistic, and Inter may yet opt against signing a midfielder.