Inter, Marco Palestra first target for the transfer market

Question of priorities: in the meantime, Palestra, the rest will be seen. Inter established the strategy, allocating almost all of the starting budget on the very fast legs of the young national team winger. Atalanta has raised a wall that can only be broken down with money, a lot of money, but Chivu hopes to be satisfied in his request, because he is convinced that a young and constant engine on the wing can greatly improve the team. It seems like a contradiction, investing 40 million in the Dumfries role, but it all makes sense: Inter has a strong suspicion that this time the holder of the position will exercise his right to free himself for 25 million, as per the clause set in the contract which expires in 2028. Better to prepare, in short, with a worthy successor.

The line

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The financial policy of the Oaktree fund, which aims to lower the salary and average age of the team, would also be satisfied in the virtual exchange. Dumfries is 30 years old and earns 4 million net, Palestra is 21 and after the first Serie A championship in Cagliari he “only” earns 280,000 euros. If the double deal were to go through, Inter would therefore collect 25 which is almost all capital gain and would cut wages by around 4 gross by offering a rich five-year contract (from 2 net) to the new scion. It is a reasoning about the future but also about the present: Palestra has demonstrated that he is already an actor ready for any theater. The problem is that Atalanta also knows this, a club freed from any need for liquidity and also stuck in negotiations: at the moment, the 40 million offer would hardly be accepted,

Coming and going

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Inter certainly don’t intend to wait for Dumfries’ moves, who can free themselves by the month of July and are aiming for the world championship to attract the attention of the big European teams. Palestra is a long-term project that can serve regardless, not only on the right but also on the left, especially in anticipation of a possible departure of Carlos Augusto who has not renewed (2028) and has offers. If Inter manage to convince the Percassi family, without creating another Lookman case a year later, they will complete the purchase and then wait for developments in Dumfries. And for Luis Henrique, who Ausilio considers a good asset to fix after a so-so season: he could have left in January (Bournemouth), but instead he stayed because Inter failed to sign Cancelo. But now, with the promotion of Diouf who will remain a fantasy winger, there is no more space for him: in England and Spain some admirers could return Inter a sum not far from that paid to Marseille (25 million).

Mister Jones

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The other midfielder close to leaving is Davide Frattesi, one of the great disappointments in the doubles season. He would like to return to Roma, in a complicated exchange with Manu Koné, but more likely he will find a team in the Premier League. Maybe Nottingham Forest. On the other hand, Inter are also considering importing the heir from England, who already in January seemed one step away from yes: this is Curtis Jones, born in 2001 for Liverpool, who is a midfielder and not an inside midfielder but would still strengthen the department in which Chivu is asking for players capable of occupying multiple positions. On Tuesday evening in Monte Carlo, on the sidelines of the prosecutor Pastorello’s party, Ausilio spoke to his Liverpool colleague, Richard Hughes. Inter aims to take advantage of the agreement with the player and the contract expiring in 2027. But Jones is one of the 16 starters available to Arne Slot: he is unlikely to move for less than 25 million. The negotiations have just begun. However, it is clear that, barring any surprising transfers, Mkhitaryan’s renewal will lower the amount of investments dedicated to the midfield. At this moment Koné, who Roma valued at 50 million, is an alternative to Jones and no longer complementary.