Marcus Thuram will be the seventh free transfer signing Inter Milan have made in fives once he arrives from Borussia Monchengladbach.

This is highlighted in today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews.

Over the past few seasons, Inter have certainly developed a reputation for being a team with an eye for a bargain signing.

Partly this has owed to the Nerazzurri’s financial situation. Since the start of the pandemic, Inter have faced tight financial restrictions that have made big money signings a rarity.

The arrival of Beppe Marotta has CEO has also been a major factor.

The experienced executive has always had a reputation for going after free transfers. This was the case when he was in charge of Juventus, and also long before then.

And at Inter, this trend has continued for Marotta.

Marcus Thuram Yet Another Free Transfer Coup For Inter Milan

The Nerazzurri are on the verge of completing a deal to sign Gladbach forward Marcus Thuram. The Frenchman will reportedly sign his contract tomorrow.

Given that Thuram’s contract with Borussia Monchengladbach expires at the end of this month, he’ll sign for nothing.

This is the seventh such occasion Inter have pulled off this type of deal.

That’s not even including the very low-cost operations to bring veterans like Aleksandar Kolarov, Edin Dzeko, Arturo Vidal, and Alexis Sanchez to the San Siro.

As the Corriere note, only one of those free transfers was a damp squib.

Atletico Madrid and Uruguay legend Diego Godin arrived at Inter on a free transfer during the summer 2019. The veteran defender was brought in to be a pillar of a new-look defense under Antonio Conte.

However, in truth the Uruguayan always looked like his best days were behind him. Godin left to join Cagliari the next summer the same way he came, via a free transfer.

However, the other free transfers have all had an important role in the building of this Inter team.

From De Vrij & Asamoah To Onana & Mkhitaryan – Inter Built On Free Transfers

In the summer of 2018, Inter made two free transfer signings from Serie A arrivals.

Experienced wingback Kwadwo Asamoah arrived from Juventus.

The Ghanaian may have only stuck around for a couple appearances and made 53 appearances. However, in his first season at the club Asamoah helped solidify a team that was starting to find their feet as a Champions League side again under Luciano Spalletti.

Then, in his second, Asamoah helped ease the transition into new coach Antonio Conte. The ex-Juventus man knew Conte well, as he was a former stalwart of the coach at the Baicnoneri.

The other big name to arrive for nothing in 2018 was Stefan de Vrij.

Inter snapped the Dutchman up from Lazio.

De Vrij has made over two hundred appearances in a Nerazzurri shirt, and was a pivotal part of the 2020-21 season’s Serie A title win.

The 31-year-old’s adventure at Inter isn’t over either – he is reportedly on the verge of agreeing a new contract.

Calhanoglu’s Arrival From AC Milan A Key Moment For This Inter

Another player ready to commit his future to the Nerazzurri by signing a new deal is Hakan Calhanoglu.

The Turkish international had joined Inter from city rivals AC Milan in the summer of 2021. The Nerazzurri brought him across the city divide after he declined the Rossoneri’s contract extension offer.

It was a whirlwind transfer, which the Nerazzurri wrapped up quickly to replace Christian Eriksen.

Calhanoglu has become a pillar of this Inter team, first in a box-to-box midfield role and now as the team’s first-choice regista. Moreover, the 29-year-old is a firm favourite despite his former Milan allegiances.

Without having to pay a cent in transfer fees, Inter brought in a player who was vital on their run to the Champions League final.

Two other players who also had major roles to play in the Nerazzurri’s high-profile European adventure were Hernikh Mkhitaryan and Andre Onana.

The duo arrived when their contracts with Roma and Ajax respectively ran out.

These signings certainly represented value for (a lack of) money for Inter. Now, they’ll be hoping that Thuram can follow suit.