Inter are not experiencing buyer’s remorse over the deals to bring in Raoul Bellanova from Cagliari and Kristjan Asllani from Empoli in the summer, despite neither featuring prominently.
As reported in today’s newspaper edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Nerazzurri are satisfied with Asllani and feel that circumstances have prevented him from making a bigger impact this season.
The Albania international impressed in preseason after joining on loan for an initial €4 million, with a fee of €10m set to buy him outright, with a view to serving as backup to Marcelo Brozovic.
Despite Brozovic missing much of the season through injury, Hakan Calhanoglu has impressed in the deep-lying midfield role and this has prevented Asllani from stepping up, whilst it is felt that coach Simone Inzaghi has preferred a more experienced figure in that position.
Inter maintain high hopes for Asllani and feel that he can push on in the future and make the role his own.
Meanwhile, Bellanova will also remain an Inter player when his loan from Cagliari expires, with the Nerazzurri having no doubts that they want to keep him next season.
They would like to bring the €7m buyout fee down though, and may offer a youth player in exchange.
Elsewhere, the Nerazzurri are also hopeful of retaining centre-back Francesco Acerbi after his loan from Lazio ends in the summer, but consider the €4m fee needed to sign him to be too high.
Whilst the capital club are considered tough negotiators, Inter are boosted by Acerbi’s reluctance to return to the Stadio Olimpico after leaving on poor terms, but his permanent transfer will require some compromise.
