Inter’s squad is likely to see a significant amount of player turnover during the summer transfer window, between players being sold, leaving on free transfers, and departing at the end of loans.
This is highlighted in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, who report that the situations of at least a dozen Nerazzurri players are totally up in the air from Marcelo Brozovic and Romelu Lukaku to Denzel Dumfries and Joaquin Corrrea.
One thing that looks to be certain is that Inter will have to make at least one major player sale during the summer, and possibly several, to meet financial targets.
Brozovic and Dumfries have been two of the names most strongly linked in recent weeks, but Correa is another who could still fetch a relatively large transfer fee and even Robin Gosens could well be out the door for the right offer.
Aside from these big potential sales, there is all the fact that multiple Inter players see their contracts run out at the end of June, with contract extension talks far from having been wrapped up.
This is certainly the case with Roberto Gagliardini, who has long been anticipated to leave on a free transfer, but very possibly also with Edin Dzeko and Stefan de Vrij who the Nerazzurri are still some way from agreeing new deals with.
Meanwhile, it is very uncertain whether veterans Samir Handanovic and Danilo D’Ambrosio will agree contract extensions, but looking increasingly unlikely.
In terms of players currently on loan at Inter until the end of the season, meanwhile, the Gazzetta notes that Romelu Lukaku is of course the highest-profile name, and the Nerazzurri are hardly convinced to invest in another loan deal that would cost €20 million gross between fees and wages based on his performances this season.
Then there is Francesco Acerbi, who Inter would like to keep hold of on a permanent basis after a positive season on loan, but agreeing a permanent transfer of the 35-year-old at less than the €4 million purchase option in his loan deal with Lazio could prove tough.
Lastly, wingback Raoul Bellanova has found himself a peripheral figure at the Nerazzurri this season, and as things stand it’s not easy to see the club pulling the trigger on the €7 million purchase option in his loan deal from Cagliari.
It is hardly likely that every single one of the above-mentioned players will be on their way in the summer, but it is equally improbable that more than a few will remain at the start of next season as Inter are likely to clear out the squad and replace existing players with new names.
