Antonio Conte is pushing Inter towards more experienced figures like Aleksandar Kolarov, Arturo Vidal and N’Golo Kanté, letting Milan swoop for Sandro Tonali instead.
Since Conte’s crisis talks with President Steven Zhang earlier this week, the transfer strategy at San Siro has changed to better suit the views of the coach.
That means a focus on experience, leadership and more mature players rather than up-and-coming talent.
Antonio Conte is pushing Inter towards more experienced figures like Aleksandar Kolarov, Arturo Vidal and N’Golo Kanté, letting Milan swoop for Sandro Tonali instead.
Since Conte’s crisis talks with President Steven Zhang earlier this week, the transfer strategy at San Siro has changed to better suit the views of the coach.
That means a focus on experience, leadership and more mature players rather than up-and-coming talent.
Because of this, there are multiple reports a deal has been done with Roma worth just under €2m for full-back Kolarov, while negotiations are stepping up again with Barcelona for his old Juventus midfielder Vidal.
La Gazzetta dello Sport claim Inter must sell players to raise funds for Conte’s preferred choice, Chelsea midfielder Kanté, who he had brought in from Leicester City in 2016 for €35m.
It’s reported the cost of signing the 29-year-old now would be closer to €50m, so players sacrificed to make way could include Marcelo Brozovic, Roberto Gagliardini and even Christian Eriksen.
Other options include Thomas Partey of Atletico Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur’s Tanguy Ndombélé.
In turn, Inter have dropped the agreement they already had with Brescia to sign Tonali on loan with obligation to buy for a total €35m.
Brescia President Massimo Cellino confirmed this to Sky Sport Italia on Friday, noting the 20-year-old was running out of patience.
“Beppe Marotta always confirmed the strong interest that Inter have for the player, so I tried to avoid negotiations with other clubs, including ones from abroad.
“However, this lad needs to know what his future holds. I am in no rush, but Tonali is.”
Sportitalia and Sky Sport Italia point towards Milan swooping in, taking the player on loan for €10m with option to buy for another €20m plus bonuses.
Brescia would prefer this to be an obligation, similar to the deal they had with Inter.
Some Inter fans have been critical of Tonali for ‘changing his mind,’ but Sky Sport Italia and indeed Cellino make clear the only ones who backed away from this deal were Inter directors.