Inter will look to sign Borussia Dortmund defender Manuel Akanji on a free transfer next summer if they are unable to wrap up a deal for his signature before the end of the current transfer window.

This according to today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, who report that the Nerazzurri’s strategy is to keep tabs on the 27-year-old not just this summer but also heading into the next one should his contract situation remain as it is at Dortmund.

Inter look increasingly unlikely to be able to sign Akanji on loan this summer unless Dortmund make a complete reversal on their stance and open up to sanctioning such a deal for the Swiss international.

However, given that the former Basel defender’s deal runs out at the end of June 2023, he could be available on a free transfer at the end of the season.

The Nerazzurri will continue to wait to see if the Schwarzgelben open up to extending Akanji’s contract and then loaning him out before the end of the window, and then if they don’t and he doesn’t move to a different team, begin to prepare for a move next season when he is out of contract.