Inter Sporting Director Piero Ausilio expects that the team will get to contract extensions with a number of players in the squad in due time, but that the focus right now is on the pitch.

Speaking to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, via FCInter1908, the Nerazzurri executive gave his thoughts on a number of topics related to the team’s season as well as the transfer market.

A number of players in Inter’s squad see their current contracts expire at the end of June.

The likes of Stefan de Vrij and Edin Dzeko are among those who will have to decide whether they want to sign new deals or not.

Moreover, it is not just players whose deals run out at the end of the current season who the Nerazzurri will necessarily be looking to extend with.

From Ausilio’s perspective, the negotiations with these players are ongoing, but should not become a distraction given that the team are entering an important phase of the season.

“We’re in talks with 3-4 players regarding their contracts, there could be positive news shortly,” he said.

There is also the question of whether or not Inter will extend the loan of striker Romelu Lukaku, and Ausilio stated that “Romelu has to do the same thing that he’s been doing for months.

“Ever since he recovered from his injury he’s been hard at work, he’s focused on training and performances.”

“To me he looks like he’s getting closer and closer to his best condition and he’ll soon prove it, he and all his teammates have to be focused on the matches we have on the way, everyone must have Porto as their first priority,” the executive continued.

Asked if Wednesday’s match against Porto can be a “turning point,” Ausilio replied that “I don’t think we should talk about a turning point like that, Inter have been doing well for months, today we have a big deficit compared to Napoli, but they’re doing incredibly well compared to any other team in Europe.”

“The only game they’ve lost in the league has been against us, and then we’re also on a great path in the Champions League, we’ll try to do our best on Wednesday against Porto, a strong team with a long tradition in that competition, who’re also doing well in Portugal.”

Asked about how coach Simone Inzaghi is handling recent criticisms, Ausilio replied that “He looks calm to me, this is all stuff from outside, perhaps because of how pressure there is on the team.”

“Inter are expected to play to win, but only one team can win in the end.”

The Sporting Director noted that “Inter have had consistency over the last four years, we’ve won four trophies, we’re always in the hunt for titles.”

“Even despite the extraordinary season that a team like Napoli is having, I think we deserve a lot of credit.”

“We’re in line with what we’ve laid out for the season, 47 points at this stage would normally be enough to be in the Scudetto race,” Ausilio added.

“We’re in the Champions League, we have the semifinal of the Coppa Italia to come, and then there’s the Supercoppa Italia which we won in impressive fashion.”

“I think we’re still fighting for all our goals,” Ausilio added.

Of the team’s approach in the transfer market, the executive stated that “I think that sustainability is the most important thing to understand for us, Marotta has also spoken about it.”

“We have to respect the rules,” he continued, “that’s the case for Inter and also for other clubs.”

“The financial restrictions means that we can’t just go into the market without restrictions on our every whim, as perhaps every Sporting Director would like to be the case,” he went on.

“The financial and economic side of the game is crucial for everyone, we still try to put together a balanced and strong team.”

“In recent years we’ve sold more than we’ve spent,” Ausilio continued, “we have managed to sign some excellent players on free transfer, not just losing Skriniar.”

“It shouldn’t be overlooked that there are six or seven top players at Inter who arrived without a transfer fee.”

Asked if there’s a certain pride at building a strong team despite these restrictions, Ausilio stated that “We have to put something more into it, we can’t just build the team with the same logic that teams in England do.”

“Just look at the ‘small’ teams there who can spend €100 million in January alone,” he said of the Premier League.

“We can’t keep up with that, so we have to use our imaginations more, we have ideas, scouts, and a youth academy which gives us new resources to tap into each season.”

“Everything can always be improved,” Ausilio argued, “you don’t have to spend €100 million or €200 million every season to build a strong team, and that’s true of all the big Italian clubs.”

Ausilio also commented on the looming exit of Milan Skriniar, admitting that “Losing Skriniar is not something that there’s any positive side to, we would’ve liked to continue on together but he thought about it and made the decision that he did.”

“There will be always be other opportunities on the market to sign young players and players who can make us competitive,” he added, “Inter will always play to win.”