How Inter Milan Landed On Ex Stoke City Striker After Failure To Sign Other Targets

Inter Milan have landed on the signing of Bologna striker Marko Arnautovic after finding other targets infeasible to sign.

This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, who report that between the relatively low cost of the deal and the 34-year-old’s technical attributes, Arnautovic will be the Nerazzurri’s “compromise” signing.

Inter’s post-Romelu Lukaku search for a striker has now gone on for a month.

After the move for the Belgian collapsed in dramatic fashion, the Nerazzurri have looked at a number of targets.

There have been flirtations with Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun. Gianluca Scamacca came onto Inter’s radar before Atalanta beat them to the punch.

In recent days Porto striker Mehdi Taremi has emerged as a major target.

Even Bayern Munich’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was a player Inter looked into over the past few days. However, the Bavarians are not interested in selling the Cameroonian.

With all of these targets, for one reason or another, Inter have been unable to seal a deal.

For that reason, the Gazzetta reports, they’ve decided to turn to Arnautovic.

Why Inter Milan Are Deciding To Sign Marko Arnautovic Now

According to the Gazzetta, Inter are close to agreeing a deal to sign Arnautovic.

The Nerazzurri will pay Bologna €8 million plus add-ons. Meanwhile, the player will sign a two-year deal worth €2.5 million net per season plus add-ons.

This certainly puts the Austrian well within Inter’s budget.

By contrast, the Gazzetta report, Inter went as high as €23 million in their offer for Taremi for example. After that was turned down, the Nerazzurri decided not to go any higher.

And as far as Arnautovic’s technical profile, the 34-year-old veteran does more or less offer what Inter have been after all along.

Nerazzurri coach Simone Inzaghi has always been clear that the thing that the squad lacks is an out-and-out Number Nine who has the physicality to hold up play and act as a reference point in the final third.

The tall, strong Arnautovic can add this dimension the attack. However, the ex-West Ham United and Stoke City man does not lack for technical ability or an eye for goal.

Arnautovic may not be the signing most Nerazzurri fans were hoping for, particularly given his age.

However, the Gazzetta report, he is the compromise that Inter’s directors landed on after turning away from other targets for one reason or another.

Meanwhile, the newspaper report, Arnautovic is likely to be Inter’s last attacking signing of the summer.

There have been one or two rumours that the Nerazzurri could move for another forward in addition to the Austrian. But, the Gazzetta anticipate, realistically they will probably just wrap up Arnautovic’s arrival and close the book for the summer.