Denzel Dumfries was one of the most sought-after talents in world football when making his way to Inter in the summer of 2021.

Having starred at that summer’s European Championship, his stock was most definitely on the rise. A move to Serie A from PSV in his native Netherlands appeared to be a wise career choice, with it obvious that the buccaneering right-back deserved a more prominent stage on which to showcase his talents at club level.

Competition

Life has not always been easy for the Dutchman at San Siro, with Inter not the dominant force and go-to-option within football tips that they once were and currently sit at 500/1 to win Serie A this season. Fierce competition is now faced in pursuit of domestic and continental prizes.

Dumfries has, however, been able to continue catching the eye for club and country – to the point that he continues to generate plenty of transfer speculation in each passing window.

The summer of 2023 is already shaping up to be no different, with another change of scenery potentially on the cards.

The man himself has said of the admiring glances he is said to be attracting, particularly from the English Premier League: “The interest flatters me, of course, but my focus is only on Inter.”

While that is the kind of straight-bat response that you would expect from a player when quizzed on their future, agents are prepared to push their cards a little further across the table.

When it comes to Dumfries’ representative, Rafaela Pimenta, she said when asked if impressive performances at the 2022 World Cup were set to push her client’s asking price up: “Let’s hope not, otherwise it would be more difficult to transfer him!”

A serious nod was offered towards an imminent deal there, with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United said to be back in the market for defensive reinforcements.

Links to Old Trafford refuse to go away, especially now that Dutch tactician Erik ten Hag is calling the shots at the Theatre of Dreams.

He is said to be keen on bringing another fellow countryman in alongside him, with various recruitment options reportedly being considered.

If Inter were to open themselves up for talks, then they could be compensated for their troubles with financial reward, a ready-made replacement to fill an obvious void in Simone Inzaghi’s squad, or both.

This is where some big decisions need to be made, with a plan of action drawn up long before calls from English or Spanish suitors are taken.

Exchange

Would a swap deal, the kind that United are said to be open to discussing, appeal to Inter? If they can acquire one right-back while bidding farewell to another – maybe even one with prior experience of life in Milan – is that a better option for all concerned than a standard exchange of money?

Allowing Dumfries to move on would not be a decision that is taken lightly, with there still plenty of potential to be unlocked in his game, but with the Nerazzurri seemingly bracing themselves for bids, it is best to be prepared for all eventualities.