Lazio would be open to selling defender Francesco Acerbi to Inter on a permanent basis for €3 million rather than the €4 million purchase option in his loan deal, but Inter want to pay even less than this.
This according to Italian news outlet FCInterNews, who report that the Nerazzurri are hoping to agree a similar deal to the ones which saw them sign Arturo Vidal and Edin Dzeko, on free transfers with small add-on fees contingent on reaching the Champions League.
Inter are very keen to sign Acerbi permanently given his performances throughout his loan spell this season.
Meanwhile, Lazio would be willing to let the 35-year-old leave despite the fact that his contract in the Italian capital runs out at the end of June 2025.
Given that Alessio Romagnoli was signed last summer on a free transfer to replace Acerbi, he is no longer part of coach Maurizio Sarri’s plans, whilst his relationship with the Biancocelesti fans has also frayed.
Accordingly, Lazio would be willing to lower the asking price to €3 million from the €4 million fee specified in the purchase option in Acerbi’s loan deal with Inter.
However, for their part, the Nerazzurri want to pay even less than this.
According to FCInterNews, Inter’s plan is to ask for a similar arrangement to the one which saw them sign Vidal from Barcelona and Dzeko from Roma.
Both of those players arrived on initial free transfers, but in deals saw the Nerazzurri pay their former club small add-on fees after securing Champions League football in their first seasons at the club.
It will now remain to be seen whether Inter and Lazio can negotiate a deal for Acerbi, or if the distance between the two clubs will remain too great, in which case the former Sassuolo defender would return to the Italian capital.
