Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi will have a number of possible solutions for his team in attack if he is not able to count on striker Romelu Lukaku in the first Milan derby of the season.
This according to Italian news outlet Gazzetta.it, who suggest that the coach could either rely on one of the Belgian’s backup attackers for the match, or switch the formation to play with an attacking midfielder behind a lone striker, likely Edin Dzeko.
It is not clear whether Lukaku will be fit in time for the Milan derby, but should he not be, then one possibility would be for Inzaghi to partner Lautaro Martinez with either Dzeko or Joaquin Correa in the 29-year-old’s stead.
The partnership between Martinez and Dzeko had been the first-choice for much of last season, whilst a strike pair between Martinez and Correa had been used less often but did look at its most effective in a Coppa Italia win over AC Milan in April.
Meanwhile, the coach could also decide to play one of Hakan Calhanoglu, or Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who should be at full fitness to face the Rossoneri, in a Number Ten position behind Martinez.
One final option available to the coach would be to play with Dzeko as the main striker, and then use Martinez and an attacking midfielder behind him, possibly developing an unorthodox 3-3-3-1 system in possession.
If both Marcelo Brozovic and Kristjan Asllani were to play in midfield, this could well enable Denzel Dumfries to get forward as an out-and-out winger and part of a line with Martinez and either Mkhitaryan, Calhanoglu, or Correa playing behind Dzeko leading the line.