Union Berlin are hoping to lure out-of-favour Inter Milan defender Robin Gosens to the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei this summer, but a transfer remains complicated due to their financial constraints.
According to Bild, Die Eisernen are trying to figure out an option that their limited finances allow, but there are three routes they could take to snapping up the Inter outcast.
They could sign Gosens on a simple loan deal where Inter covers the majority of the 29-year-old’s salary.
That plan would hugely favour the Germans, who will be getting a quality player for a year without paying a penny in transfer fees.
However, it remains to be seen if Inter will be willing to sanction such a deal with the Nerazzurri keen to permanently offload fringe players to balance their books.
Berlin could also loan Gosens and insert a buy option in the deal. If history is anything to go by, Inter will demand a purchase obligation instead to ensure Gosens joins the Germans permanently after the loan stint.
Their final option would be to buy Gosens outright, but the Champions League finalists will reportedly demand around €15-20 million to part ways with the Germany international.
However, that fee is too high for Berlin as it would mean spending a large chunk of their transfer budget in one fell swoop.
If they were to make an audacious move to snap him up, the defender would have to take a huge pay cut to finalise the move.
It would not be a shrewd business move by the Germans, considering Gosens has not been at his sparkling best since joining Inter.
Berlin know they need to reinforce their squad this summer to remain competitive next season, especially after qualifying for the Champions League.
However, sporting director Oliver Ruhnert insists the club will not go overboard to sign players this summer.
Gosens is also attracting interest from Nottingham Forest, who are in the market for a new left-back after the departure of former loanee Renan Lodi.
Unlike Berlin, the Premier League club can match Inter’s valuation and cover the player’s salary demands.
