There are financial and tactical reasons why Inter would give some serious consideration to a swap deal with Barcelona between Marcelo Brozovic and Franck Kessie.
The story emerged over the last few days in Spanish newspaper Marca, followed up by Sky Sport Italia and Sportitalia.
All of them suggest that although the idea is in the early stages and was proposed by Barcelona in passing, Inter have by no means slammed the door shut to potentially taking it further.
The reasons why this deal would suit the Nerazzurri are to be found both on and off the pitch.
Brozovic has only recently signed a new contract with Inter and has more or less the same salary as Kessie, circa €6.5m per season plus bonuses.
As he has been at the club for so long, his sale would be considered pure profit in terms of capital gains, while Barcelona got Kessie as a free agent from Milan only six months ago.
The other reason is a tactical one, as during Brozovic’s extended absence this season due to injury, Inter have moved Hakan Calhanoglu deeper into the Croatian’s role and found him to be potentially an improvement.
As Kristjan Asllani has already been signed as a big investment to act as understudy, Brozovic is technically no longer needed.
Kessie would therefore bring something new to the Nerazzurri midfield and needs no time to adjust, seeing as for years he played in Italy with first Atalanta and then Milan.