Inter could try to sign Francesco Acerbi on a permanent basis next summer without paying the €4 million asking price of Lazio for his signature.
This according to Italian news outlet FCInterNews, who report that the Nerazzurri could look to use a similar strategy to their moves for Arturo Vidal and Edin Dzeko to get a deal done for the 34-year-old.
Acerbi is currently on loan at Inter from Lazio, and it is far from clear that the former Sassuolo defender’s loan deal will be made permanent.
For his part, Acerbi is keen to remain at the Nerazzurri past the end of the current campaign, whilst coach Simone Inzaghi is also hoping to sign him permanently next summer.
However, the purchase option in the 34-year-old’s loan deal is for €4 million, which Inter have no intention of paying.
Given that Acerbi will be 35 at the end of the current campaign and seems to have relatively little interest from other clubs, Inter could offer a similar deal to the ones for Vidal and Dzeko, taking on his wages for the final year of his deal and including a €1 million add-on for Champions League qulification.