There are differing reports on Mauro Icardi’s situation at Inter, as Juventus and Napoli both try to use Romelu Lukaku to their advantage.
The Argentina international has been frozen out by Antonio Conte and director Beppe Marotta, left to train by himself while the rest of the squad is on a tour of Asia.
Icardi has repeatedly turned down other options, as he has his heart set on Juventus, but there are different reports emerging this evening.
There are differing reports on Mauro Icardi’s situation at Inter, as Juventus and Napoli both try to use Romelu Lukaku to their advantage.
The Argentina international has been frozen out by Antonio Conte and director Beppe Marotta, left to train by himself while the rest of the squad is on a tour of Asia.
Icardi has repeatedly turned down other options, as he has his heart set on Juventus, but there are different reports emerging this evening.
The Corriere della Sera newspaper claims agent-wife Wanda Nara wants to negotiate a transfer to any club, but that the player is convinced he can change Conte’s mind.
Sportitalia maintain Napoli have agreed basic personal terms, but that they still need to work through the very thorny issue of image rights, something Partenopei President Aurelio De Laurentiis is determined to get in any deal.
Tuttomercatoweb also suggest Napoli have made a first approach to Inter worth around €50m, hoping to negotiate down the €70m asking price to €60m.
The same source maintains Inter would be far happier to sell Icardi to Napoli than Juve, even going so far as to ask the Bianconeri for an extra €10m or Paulo Dybala in exchange.
Both Serie A clubs are ready to wait it out, because they know the pressure is all on Inter to sell.
That is because the Premier League transfer window shuts on August 8 and Manchester United won’t sell Lukaku unless they have a replacement lined up.
In Italy, it goes on for another couple of weeks, so Juve and Napoli can afford to hold off on Icardi in the hope of a better deal.
Without selling Icardi, Inter cannot raise the funds necessary for €85m-rated Lukaku.