Inter Milan have faced quite a few stumbling blocks in the transfer market but have had a solid summer so far.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta della Sport, via FCInterNews, who argue that even with the absolute debacle that the Romelu Lukaku situation has turned into, the Nerazzurri have approached the window fairly well.
In the last couple of weeks, the farcical situation surrounding Lukaku has threatened to overshadow every other aspect of Inter’s summer.
Meanwhile, the sale of Andre Onana has also left Inter with a big hole to fill. The fact that they have not done so promptly is a worry, as deals for Yann Sommer and Anatoliy Trubin hang in the balance.
How Inter approach these two tasks – replacing Onana and finding the right alternative to Lukaku – will be crucial in defining the kind of summer window they end up having when the dust settles.
So, then, will be how Inter finally replace Milan Skriniar.
So a big chunk of Inter’s summer window is unwritten. But an equally significant part, the club have already gotten out of the way.
And in the view of the Gazzetta, it has been a good window to date.
Thuram & Frattesi Arrivals Key To Inter Revitalizing Squad
The two most high-profile signings that Inter have made to date are Marcus Thuram and Davide Frattesi.
The former arrived on a free transfer after the Nerazzurri snapped him up ahead of city rivals AC Milan.
Thuram replaces Edin Dzeko in the squad – the Gazzetta argues that replacing the ex-Roma veteran with the much younger Thuram without paying a penny on a transfer fee was a major coup for Inter.
The former Borussia Monchengladbach man makes Inter a much younger and pacier team in attack.
Moreover, Inter are spending a total of €8 million gross per season on Thuram’s €6 million net per season wages thanks to the tax benefits of the Growth Decree.
Another player who has dragged down Inter’s squad age is Frattesi.
Arriving from Sassuolo to replace Marcelo Brozovic, the 23-year-old Italy star should have his best years ahead of him. Inter worked fairly quickly to resolve the transfer saga and get their man with Frattesi.
The Gazzetta note that, apart from adding freshness and athleticism to Inter’s midfield, and orienting the team more to the longer-term future, Frattesi also helps lower the wage bill.
Whilst Inter had been spending €14 million gross per season on Brozovic’s wages, Frattesi will earn far less.
22-year-old German defender Yann Bisseck is yet another player who freshens up the perspective of Inter’s squad.
The arrival of Raffael Di Gennaro to take the place of Alex Cordaz as third-choice goalkeeper is a less flashy piece of business, but it’s important.
And the surprise arrival of Juan Cuadrado on a one-year deal shores up the Nerazzurri in wide areas for next season. It may be the exact opposite kind of deal to those for Thuram, Frattesi, and Bisseck, but it’s a low-cost signing of an experienced player.
