Despite falling narrowly short of Champions League glory, Inter Milan showed last season they have what it takes to compete with the best in business.
Helping the team to their first Champions League final since 2010, a third-place finish in Serie A and a second straight Coppa Italia title saved manager Simone Inzaghi’s job.
The former Lazio head coach was walking a tightrope for most of the 2022/23 campaign. But Inter’s impressive form down the final stretch gave him a lifeline.
Whether it’s due to scarce cash reserves or a lack of strategic planning, Inter have given the impression of being frustratingly slow out of the blocks when the starting pistol fires on summer trading.
Or at least, that’s been the case in recent years.
After qualifying for the Champions League final filled the club’s coffers, the Serie A heavyweights could deploy a more aggressive approach this time around.
Even though the Nerazzurri’s financial limits threaten to forbid any potential tug-of-war with the economic giants from the Premier League, they are still expected to add a few high-profile players this summer.
However, the focus isn’t just on the incomings but the outgoings as well, with Inter CEO Beppe Marotta facing several massive decisions in the upcoming period.
Who could leave?
Long-serving defender Milan Skirinar is already on the verge of joining Paris Saint-Germain after rejecting a new deal at Meazza.
Inter reconciled with the loss of the Slovakia international long ago and have been on the hunt for his successor since being informed by the player’s camp of his intention to leave last January.
Unfortunately, Skriniar may not be the only first-team star to leave Inzaghi’s troops, as Andre Onana’s future in Serie A hangs by a thread after Chelsea named him one of their top targets.
Robin Gosens is another potential candidate to part with the Nerazzurri following a torrid year-and-a-half stint in Lombardy.
The German left-back’s glory days are well behind him, but the former Atalanta man still has plenty of suitors in Italy and abroad.
Romelu Lukaku has recently turned down the prospect of moving to Saudi Arabia, hoping to stay at Inter, but much will depend on the club’s ability to negotiate a new deal with Chelsea.
Although he has no future at Stamford Bridge, the 30-year-old striker is still an expensive asset, meaning the Blues will be looking to sell him to the highest bidder.
His attacking companion Edin Dzeko will soon be on the move after the Italians refused to extend his expiring contract.
Who could arrive?
According to Fabrizio Romano, negotiations between Inter and Chelsea over Kalidou Koulibaly’s return to Serie A will start soon after the Italians identified the ex-Napoli defender as Skriniar’s replacement.
Only a year after fleeing Italy to team up with the London outfit, the 31-year-old could return to wear the Nerazzurri shirt, having defended the Partenopei colours for eight years beforehand.
With Henrikh Mkhitaryan not getting any younger and Hakan Calhanoglu struggling with inconsistent performances, the overriding requirement is for a new central midfielder.
If the latest updates from Italy are to be believed, the beaten Champions League finals have already opened discussions with Lazio for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
As one of the most highly-rated playmakers in Serie A, the 28-year-old has a host of admirers in Europe, but it’s understood he’s keen to stay in Italy.
Inter could sign Milinkovic-Savic for around €30 million as Lazio president Claudi Lotito is unprepared to lose his prized asset on a free transfer next summer, as per LazioNews24.
With Dzeko leaving and Lukaku’s future in doubt, the Nerazzurri will likely have to scour the market for a new out-and-out striker to partner Lautaro Martinez.
We won’t play the guessing game, but if both players leave Meazza this summer, there’s no doubt Inter will have to open their chequebook to find a replacement or two.
