Inter Milan had already considered Monza midfielder Andrea Colpani a target over the past summer transfer window.

This according to today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews, who also report that the Nerazzurri are ready to go head-to-head with Juventus for the 24-year-old’s signature.

One long-term target that Inter are still searching for in the transfer market is a “sixth” midfielder.

During the summer, the Nerazzurri had looked close to securing the signature of Udinese’s Lazar Samardzic.

That deal broke down in controversial circumstances.

This led to Inter instead investing in Benjamin Pavard in defense. And for the midfield, they brought back Stefano Sensi and signed Davy Klaassen as shorter-term options.

But Inter’s attempt to sign Samardzic made clear the kind of profile that the club are after.

The Nerazzurri want a left-sided box-to-box midfielder. And the idea is to sign a player with creative and goalscoring abilities from midfield.

Inter Had Already Considered Signing Andrea Colpani After Lazar Samardzic Deal Broke Down

According to the Corriere, Inter had considered Colpani as a target even this summer, after the surprise twist that prevented them from signing Samardzic.

But in the end, Inter changed up their strategy.

The Nerazzurri instead invested the funds that they had earmarked for Samardzic in defense. They signed Benjamin Pavard from Bayern Munich in a big-money deal.

And then Inter brought in Davy Klaassen on a free transfer from Ajax.

The 30-year-old represents more of a low-cost stop-gap solution in midfield.

But already in the summer, Colpani had been an idea on Inter’s radar.

And the fact that the newly-minted Italian international has scored six goals already for Monza will hardly cause the Nerazzurri’s interest to cool.

Inter will likely make their attempt to sign Colpani in the summer.

But they will face competition from Juventus for his signature. And moreover, the Bianconeri could even aim to sign the 24-year-old in January.

Juventus are likely to sign a midfielder in midseason. And the Corriere name Colpani and Atletico Madrid’s Rodrigo De Paul as major targets for them.