Inter are put off by Borussia Dortmund’s €15 million asking price for defender Manuel Akanji, but could start to target him on a free transfer for next summer if he stays at Dortmund into the final season of his contract.

This according to today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, who report that the Schwarzgelben continue to hold out for a significant fee for the 27-year-old which would make his signing unrealistic for Inter but that the Nerazzurri’s interest would not end there.

Inter have been making attempts to bring in Akanji in as their final defensive signing of the summer, hoping that the fact that the Swiss international’s contract expires at the end of June 2023 and he isn’t extending it would mean that Dortmund would be receptive to a deal.

However, the Bundesliga side have made clear that they won’t offer either a bargain fee or a loan, so he is very unlikely to arrive before the transfer window closes.

However, the Nerazzurri are keeping an eye on whether or not Akanji finds a new club before the transfer window closes, and if he does not then they will already be plotting to sign him for free next summer when his contract expires.