Inter are working to speed up their efforts to sign Nahitan Nandez from Cagliari with the Serie A season set to begin soon, but two factors are still keeping the deal held up.
This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello SPort, who report that the Rossoblu are hesitating over the sale due to a serious injury to midfielder Marko Rog, and that an economic agreement is yet to be found between the club over Nandez but that the transfer of midfielder Radja Nainggolan could unlock the deal.
Inter and Cagliari are in advanced talks for Nandez with the Nerazzurri having identified the player as a major target and stepped up their efforts recently, with the versatile Uruguayan seen as a potential replacement for Achraf Hakimi on the right.
The deal is close, and Nerazzurri head coach Simone Inzaghi is growing impatient as he wants the deal wrapped up very soon so that the player can become available to him as he prepares for the beginning of the Serie A season in less than three weeks.
The Rossoblu’s position could be changed by an ACL injury suffered by Croatian midfielder Mark Rog, which lessens their midfield depth and could increase their economic resistance, though they are still openly negotiating for Nandez’s exit.
The two clubs are still in the last stages of working out the fee for the 25-year-old, with both parties in agreement on a €21 million amount for the purchase option, but the Rossoblu still holding out for €5 million on the initial loan fee while the Nerazzurri are only offering €3 million.
Key to finalizing the operation could be the Nerazzurri finally facilitating the permanent transfer of Belgian midfielder Nainggolan to the Sardinian club, which has been expected for much of the summer but held up by economic factors.
Should the Nerazzurri, the Rossoblu, and the 33-year-old finally come to an agreement which would see the 33-year-old join the latter, it could cover any remaining differences in the Nandez talks and allow the Uruguayan to join Inzaghi’s Nerazzurri squad.