Inter transfer market, between Jones of Liverpool and Atta of Udinese who is better for Chivu?

On the one hand, the investiture was one of those important, heavy, almost risky ones: “For me Atta is a cross between Bellingham and Zidane – revealed Udinese’s technical director, Gianluca Nani -. Think about the value we give to him…”. On the other hand, Inter hopes that by focusing on Jones from Liverpool, the English midfielder can replicate the excellent path experienced by Scott McTominay in Naples. A good player for the Premier League who has very quickly become crucial in Serie A. In any case, and even beyond the defensive department on which the attention of the Nerazzurri transfer men are mainly focused these days, the imprint of the new Inter for next season is starting to take shape more and more. That even in midfield there will be a small revolution.

because jones

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Starting point: Inter have long entered a much more advanced stage of negotiations with Jones than with Atta. The Englishman from Liverpool was close in January, he asked Chiesa how to live in Italy, he is attracted to a new life after an entire career in the Premier League and already has a draft agreement on a personal level with the Nerazzurri club. There remains, and it is certainly not a detail, a distance of around 10 million between the Inter offer and the Reds request. But the coaching staff sees Jones as the ideal candidate to replace the departing Frattesi. The Englishman can count on remarkable flexibility, he was born a pure midfielder but in England he played almost everywhere: in the attacking midfield, as a full-back, as a midfielder in front of the defense and even as a full-back. But Chivu’s plan would take him to the center, midfielder, to compose a midfield of absolute quality in the company of Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Sucic and with the wildcard Mkhitaryan ready to take over on any occasion. Not bad, if the Englishman really were to have the impact that McTominay had on Serie A.

Jones is 25 years old but has more than 150 appearances for Liverpool (as well as one Champions League, two Premier League, one Club World Cup and various other trophies in the trophy cabinet) and corresponds exactly to the “foreigner of experience” mentioned by Marotta when the Nerazzurri president drew up the characteristics that Inter would be looking for in the summer. Just a year ago, the well-known transfer market portal Transfermarkt quoted Jones’ price tag at 50 million euros. A figure which, considering the age and quality of the midfielder, could have risen further, but which fell to 35 due to decreased usage and above all the contract expiring in just a year. Here it is, the quibble around which the Nerazzurri club intends to leverage to ensure a top-notch profile at low prices.

because fit

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In the meeting between Udinese and Inter on Tuesday, in addition to the name of Solet – for whom the meeting had actually been organised, complete with the Nerazzurri’s raised offer – that of Arthur Atta also emerged. A profile that is liked and to date nothing more, but still highly appreciated by Inter in the event that the negotiation with Liverpool for Jones were to fail. A valid alternative. Different from the English in purely technical terms, but still adaptable to the team. Because the Frenchman also has notable flexibility, even if more in the offensive area than towards the center of the pitch. In the recently concluded season, the native of Rennes was born as a midfielder and that is where he was used the most, but he also played as a wide winger, as a winger in support of Davis or as a full wing midfielder during the match. The comparison with Zidane and Bellingham, with due proportions, should not be considered crazy: Atta is one of those elegant, fast, physically strong midfielders. From whom perhaps we don’t expect the best play due to his imposing physique but which instead comes out promptly. One to “sold out”, so to speak.

And Inter know this well, because the 23-year-old’s first center in Serie A had arrived at the very dawn of the season, on the second day of the championship which Udinese won at San Siro against the Nerazzurri. Insertion, lead, right-footed shot but powerful towards the far post. The first joy after a year of apprenticeship in Italy in which no goals had arrived. In total he scored 5, also giving 4 assists and attracting the attention of various clubs on the transfer market. Including that of Inter, which in the coming weeks could also turn into something more than simple monitoring.