Inter Milan are aiming to get the jump on Juventus to sign Lille striker Jonathan David by starting negotiations early.
French outlet Sport.fr, via FCInterNews, report that the Canadian is a serious target for Inter. Their plan is to start negotiations in January amid the competition for his signature.
Inter’s propensity for big free transfer signings is hardly a secret.
This summer alone, the Nerazzurri signed striker Mehdi Taremi and Piotr Zielinski after their contracts had expired with Porto and Napoli respectively.
And those are far from the only big name players who Inter have signed via this route.
All of Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Andre Onana, and Marcus Thuram have arrived at Inter without transfer fees in recent years.
And Sport.fr confirm that there is another name on Inter’s radar as a free transfer opportunity.
Striker Jonathan David’s contract with Lille runs until the end of next June. And there is no indication that the 24-year-old will sign a new deal.
Therefore, unless an improbable extension is to come, David will be available for nothing.
And Inter are likely to sign a striker next summer. The likes of Marko Arnautovic and Joaquin Correa will be heading for the exit door when their own deals expire.
Inter Plan To Beat Juventus To Sign Jonathan David With Early Negotiations
It is not as though Inter are the only club with an interest in signing David, however.
Naturally, the 24-year-old’s availability as a free transfer signing has a number of clubs taking notice.
And Sport.fr confirm that Inter’s biggest rivals to sign David could come in the form of their great Derby d’Italia rivals Juventus.
Like the Nerazzurri, the Old Lady also want to bring David to Serie A.
But Inter have a plan to try and anticipate the competition to sign the Canadian international.
The Nerazzurri’s strategy would essentially be the same as how they pulled off deals for Onana, Thuram, Taremi, and Zielinski.
In all those cases, Inter laid the groundwork for the deals early. Months in advance, even.
The January transfer window marks the point when clubs can officially begin negotiations for summer free transfer deals.
And according to Sport.fr Inter are planning to begin their negotiations with David in January of next season.
The Nerazzurri want to line up the signing of the Canadian international well before any other clubs can make their move.