Inter President Steven Zhang remains strongly optimistic that he can secure a new contract for centre-back Milan Skriniar this season.

The Slovakia international’s current deal expires next summer, leaving him available as a free agent should Inter fail to reach an agreement on new terms, and there is fear that one of the club’s top assets could depart for nothing.

However, as reported in today’s newspaper edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, Zhang used yesterday’s shareholders meeting to express his confidence in extending Skriniar’s contract.

“I’m sure we will be able to find an agreement on the contract,” the newspaper reports Zhang stating after the meeting, and it felt that this is more than just optimism, but almost an announcement.

Indeed, it is believed that Zhang is confident that a breakthrough can be made with Skriniar’s representatives after a positive first meeting, with confidence that there is room to negotiate with the former Sampdoria defender.

Meanwhile, it is also suggested that Skriniar himself is open to extending his stay at the Stadio San Siro and has not priced himself out of an extension completely.