After almost a decade of Juventus domination, Antonio Conte finally led Inter Milan to the Scudetto last season and the blue and black half of Milan celebrated through the night.
But the start of the Serie A 2021/22 season is nearer than the last weekend of Inter’s triumphant campaign, and the champions have a big three weeks ahead. The dust had barely settled on last season when Conte packed his bags and Simone Inzaghi left Lazio to take his place. The new boss has a reputation for getting the most out of his players and he’ll need to showcase all his coaching and motivational skills when he launches the club’s title defence.
Money is too tight to mention and Inzaghi’s recruitment team will need to be clever in a market which is tough to negotiate. The club is strapped for cash and has already sold star man Achraf Hachimi to moneybags Paris Saint-Germain for 54m Euros, but they have moved smartly to bring in Hakan Calhanoglu on a free transfer from AC Milan.
The Italian market has been relatively quiet, but here at SBOTOP we expect things to heat up in the next three weeks and Inzaghi’s success in his dealings could determine how strong I Nerazzurri’s title defence turns out to be.
Can Inzaghi hold his defence together?
While he needs to get bodies through the door Inzaghi has work to do to keep the title win team together, as much as possible, and there has been interest in some key members of Inter’s rock solid defence.
Atletico Madrid have been tracking Stefan de Vrij and I Nerazzurri have slapped a 40m Euros price tag on his head. De Vrij was part of a back three, alongside Milan Skriniar, who had an excellent Euro 2020, and the ever-improving Alessandro Bastoni. Inter may be willing to part with De Vrij if the money is right, but there is also interest in Bastoni from Real Madrid, who are eying the 22-year-old as a replacement for Raphael Varane, should their French centre-half leave in the transfer window.
Bastoni is one of the most highly regarded young defenders in Europe, making 74 appearances for Inter and contributing two goals and five assists, and he has also broken into Roberto Mancini’s Italy squad.
Again, money talks, but to lose one or two of these three players could be a severe blow to Inter’s prospects. And to increase the stakes, goalkeeper Samir Handanovic is in contract negotiations as he becomes a free agent in 12 months time.
Inter Milan are looking to the future, shelling out 16m Euros for Standard Liege centre-back Zinho Vanheusden and the 21-year-old may be required to step up sooner rather than later. The club is also on the verge of signing 17-year-old Slovenian defender Matjaz Samo, but the youngster is yet to make an appearance for selling club SPAL.
The early Serie A 2021 betting odds are backing Juventus to take the title back to Turin, with Inter the most likely to frustrate, but that will require a defence as good as last season’s.
Inter’s right side is a priority
The sale of Hachimi to PSG was the big Serie A 2021 news at the beginning of the summer window and it has left a gaping hole down the right flank, where the Moroccan star was deployed as either a wing back or advanced wide man.
I Nerazzurri seem to be getting closer to one recruit as a loan deal for Cagliari midfielder Nahitan Nandez is inching closer and could be completed as soon as Friday at a cost of 5m Euros. The 25-year-old is right-sided and he could get some game time this season.
But Inzaghi needs more bodies and he may be tempted to make a move for Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin who seems to surplus to requirements at the Emirates and is keen to move. He’s a top-quality player who I suspect Arsenal will miss and Inter could do a lot worse for a man who can cope comfortably with Champions League football.
Another option is Sassuolo right winger Domenico Berardi who might be allowed to leave the club, along with Manuel Locatelli who is a target for Juventus. Berardi had an exceptional Euro 2020 campaign and, at 26 years old, he’s in his prime. But Inter would have to pay for his services, possibly up to 40m Euros, with the likes of Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund monitoring the player.
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