Inter Milan have agreed a contract with Lazio owned Italian international defender Francesco Acerbi to join on a permanent deal.
This according to Italian news outlet FCInterNews, who report that the Nerazzurri now must work out an agreement with Lazio.
There is absolutely no question that Inter want to sign Acerbi on a permanent basis for next season.
The 35-year-old has established himself as a key member of Simone Inzaghi’s squad this season.
There had been a lot of negative fan reception to Acerbi’s arrival on the final day of last summer transfer window. The Biancocelesti-owned man was seen as an unambitious piece of business by the club in the eyes of many.
However, Inzaghi never had any doubts.
The coach, who had worked with Acerbi for three seasons at Lazio, believed he was the right man to reinforce Inter’s defense.
Inzaghi has certainly been vindicated in this respect.
Acerbi made short work of carving out a role in Inter’s starting eleven. Since the fall, the Lazio-owned defender has been first-choice ahead of Stefan de Vrij in the centre of the back three.
Moreover, the 35-year-old’s displays have been crucial to the Nerazzurri reaching a Champions League final.
Inter Must Work Out Agreement With Lazio To Sign Francesco Acerbi
Accordingly, there is little surprise that Inter want to make Acerbi’s signing a permanent one.
With the player, everything is done, FCIN report. The 35-year-old is ready to sign a two-year deal with Inter for next season.
However, there is also the matter of agreeing a deal with his club Lazio to consider. Acerbi is under contract with the Biancocelesti until the end of June 2025.
Inter have a purchase option in Acerbi’s loan deal. However, the Nerazzurri have no intention of paying the clause worth €4 million.
Considering Acerbi’s age, and the fact that he is completely out of the project at Lazio after the arrivals of Alessio Romagnoli and Nicolo Casale last summer, Inter expect a steep discount from the €4 million fee.
According to FCIN, Inter’s intention is to agree a similar deal to the one that saw Edin Dzeko arrive from Roma in 2021.
The Nerazzurri signed the Bosnian on an initial free transfer. However, there was a relatively small fee paid to the Giallorossi once they secured Champions League football in his first season.
According to FCIN, Inter would be ready to offer Lazio an initial free transfer for Acerbi, but containing a clause whereby they’d pay the capital club a fee of around €1.5 million once an easily-achievable target is reached.
For their part, the Biancocelesti would be ready to agree a fee in this region. However, they’d want the money up front.
Meanwhile, it’s been reported that Lazio are keen on young Inter midfielder Giovanni Fabbian. They could ask for him as part of talks for Acerbi.
