The arrival of Lazar Samardzic from Udinese will not mean Inter Milan will look to sell a starting midfielder this summer.
This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInter1908, who report that the Nerazzurri see the 21-year-old as a signing for depth in midfield rather than a player to take the place of one of the existing midfielders.
Samardzic’s imminent arrival has created a real buzz around Inter.
The former RB Leipzig star follows Davide Frattesi into the Nerazzuri, who have evidently decided that the midfield needed a real refresh with youth and quality this summer.
Additionally, the fact that the Nerazzurri have signed both of the pair could naturally lead to a bit of worry about what this implies about the future of key stars like Nicolo Barella and Hakan Calhanoglu.
According to the Gazzetta, however, there is little reason for this.
The reason, the newspaper reports, is that Inter have a clear plan that involves making Samardzic the “sixth” midfielder in the depth chart.
Inter Milan Want To Sign Samardzic & Also Keep Existing Midfielders
Whilst Frattesi “replaced” Marcelo Brozovic in Inter’s squad, the Croat was not the only midfielder who left this summer.
Roberto Gagliardini also headed for the exit door.
Therefore, Inter have been looking to make one further midfield signing.
And Samardzic is the man who they’ve decided to bet on.
The 21-year-old is not a “replacement” for anyone other than Gagliardini. Rather, the aim is to have a player with technical quality and significant room to grow in the rotation for the seasons to come, similarly to how the club signed Kristjan Asllani last summer.
On paper, Italian international duo Nicolo Barella and Davide Frattesi will likely be the two first-choice starters next season.
Backing them up will be Samardzic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. This does not mean, however, that either of these two “backups” will lack any opportunities to play.
Inter anticipate another packed, gruelling season like last time around. Both from the start and from the bench, there will be a need for fresh legs and tactical change-ups in midfield.
Moreover, injuries can always be a wild card that hands unexpected minutes to “backup” options.
The long-term muscle injuries to Marcelo Brozovic meant that both Mkhitaryan and Calhanoglu had more prominent seasons last time around than they perhaps would have otherwise.
And both Mkhitaryan and Calhanoglu themselves have had one or two muscle problems themselves over the past twelve months.
Both in terms of rotation and emergency cover for injury, Inter want to make sure there is sufficient quality across their midfield options.
And Samardzic is just the player they’ve marked out to provide this.
