Inter Milan could miss out on Lille defender Tiago Djalo if the Portuguese ends up leaving his current club in January.

The Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInter1908, report that Lille could try and force the 23-year-old out for a fee this month. That would mean that the Nerazzurri would not sign him for free in six months.

Inter’s strategy with Djalo is clear.

The Nerazzurri have been chasing the Portuguese for at least twelve months.

But with Djalo’s contract with Lille running out at the end of June, the opportunity is now there to sign the defender without a transfer fee.

That is the route that Inter have been taking.

And the Nerazzurri have already secured an agreement with the player.

The talks with Djalo and his representatives have been ongoing. And Inter have convinced the Portuguese that they are the right destination for him when his contract with Lille expires.

But Lille have other ideas. The French side want to sell Djalo for a fee while they have the chance.

And they could aim to pressure the 23-year-old out during the January transfer window.

Why Inter Could Miss Out On Lille Defender Tiago Djalo

Lille have just one month in which to cash in on Djalo.

And the 2020-21 Ligue 1 champions have indicated that they plan to drop the defender from their team if he does not accept a move away this month.

All of Juventus, Atletico Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain are targeting Djalo.

And Lille are hoping to make a deal with one of them.

The player himself sees playing time as the priority. Having come back from a long-term knee injury recently, Djalo is keen to get out on the pitch.

Accordingly, Inter could miss out if Lille are able to convince Djalo that a move this month is the only way he’ll get playing time.