Inter are aiming to get a buyback option inserted in any permanent sale of defender Lorenzo Pirola to Salernitana at the end of the season.
This according to Italian news outlet FCInterNews, who report that the Nerazzurri want to avoid losing hold of the 21-year-old for good in the way that they have with goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio.
Pirola is currently on loan with Salernitana until the end of the season, where it is uncertain whether he will stay in the summer.
The young defender had been at Monza over the two seasons prior, both in Serie B, although the Brianzoli declined to exercise a purchase option in his deal.
Di Gregorio had been another player on loan with Monza for a couple seasons, but unlike with Pirola, the Lombards did in fact sign the goalkeeper permanently at the end of the season.
The 25-year-old has been having an outstanding season with the Brianzoli, with his form of such a standard that he has kept Cagliari-owned Alessio Cragno out of the starting eleven all season.
Inter got a taste of this with Di Gregorio’s excellent display to keep a clean sheet for his team at the San Siro on Saturday in a 1-0 win for Monza, with coach Simone Inzaghi ruing how the opposition keeper had been the best player on the pitch to keep his team from scoring.
As FCIN notes, Inter will be feeling no small regret at allowing Di Gregorio to leave at a relatively small fee, and this could lead them to exercise more caution with Pirola.
Salernitana have a €5 million purchase option when the 21-year-old’s loan deal runs out at the end of June, although they could ask for a discount.
In any event, the Nerazzurri spoke with Pirola’s agent Beppe Riso a couple of days ago – FCIN report that the Nerazzurri made their intentions clear, as they would be ready to sell him but would like a buyback option.
Also possible, the outlet notes, would be for a surprise return to Inter’s first team next season when his loan at the Granata finishes.
Inter are set to do some rebuilding in defense this summer, with major budgetary constraints likely, although it is not even clear that they will be playing with a back-three defensive system next season, so there is a lot of uncertainty in any event.
