Inter Milan Could Sign A Striker In January On One Of Three Conditions

Inter Milan could sign a striker during the January transfer window if one of three conditions are to be met.

Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, identify a sale of Alexis Sanchez or Marko Arnautovic, or a loan or free transfer opportunity as potential openings.

Recent outings in Serie A have laid bare some of the issues in attack for Inter.

The problem is not with the two first-choice strikers.

Lautaro Martinez is on sixteen goals in Serie A alone after his strike against Hellas Verona yesterday – no problems there.

And Marcus Thuram was back to something like his best yesterday as well. There’s a sense that when playing alongside Martinez, the Frenchman is a reliable weapon in attack.

But the two backup forwards have not quite been up to scratch.

Three Conditions For Inter To Sign A Forward In January

Arnautovic and Sanchez both made appearances against Verona yesterday.

The former replaced Marcus Thuram as Inter looked to see out a 1-0 lead. And the latter was thrown on after the Gialloblu equalized and the Nerazzurri chased another goal.

Neither put in performances at the required level, however.

There have been positive moments here and there from both Arnautovic and Sanchez.

But not on a consistent basis. Therefore, the attack would certainly be the priority in the transfer market this month after Inter already completed the signing of Tajon Buchanan at right-wingback.

But the simple reality remains that Inter don’t have much wiggle room in the budget to sign a striker until the summer.

So something will have to happen before the Nerazzurri could do so.

One would of course be a surprise departure of Arnautovic or Sanchez.

In the case of the Austrian that would be tough. Inter have outlaid a decent fee for Arnautovic, and cannot sell him at a loss immediately and incur a capital loss.

Therefore, a departure of Sanchez would be likelier – although this would depend on the Chilean deciding to leave.

The third condition, then, would be for Inter to find an opportunity – likely in the last week or so of the January transfer window – to make a very low-cost signing.

This would likely mean a loan move. Or a player who could be released from their contract at no cost.