Inter could have to sell Lautaro Martinez this summer before they would be able to bring in out-of-contract Juventus forward Paulo Dybala.
This according to Italian journalist Niccolo Ceccarini, who reported in his column for TuttoMercatoWeb that the futures of the two Argentines would be in all likelihood linked.
Dybala may be available on a free transfer this summer, but this does not mean that his arrival would not take a significant investment given the size of the wages that he would command.
For this reason, it is not clear that a move for the Argentine would be straightforward for the Nerazzurri, who are one of the clubs reported to be keenest on bringing him in.
However, if Martinez were to be sold then the situation would be difficult, as Inter would then have the funds to get a deal done for the 28-year-old and a spot open in their attack.
“Let’s start with Dybala,” Ceccarini writes. “Inter are obviously interested but in order to make him an offer they must evaluate what other moves will be made in attack.”
“But so much, if not everything, revolves around Lautaro, who has many admirers,” he continues. “The Nerazzurri have reinforced him with a big contract extension until 2026 but in the face of a huge offer they could still sit down at the negotiating table.”
“Obviously we’re talking about a fee of around €70 million,” he goes on. “And the turning point on the Argentine’s future could come from Madrid.”
“Atletico are looking for a striker,” Ceccarini explains, “Martinez remains very much their first choice. And therefore we should follow this situation with particular attention.”
“In the light of these considerations, the fates Il Toro and La Joya could be linked,” he adds. “All the more so if Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 were to partially change ahead of next season.”
“To be clearer, there would still be a centre-forward (Scamacca remains in pole position) but with a different kind of player behind him,” he adds.
