The Frenchman is expendable for the Giallorossi, who need to invest in attack. Marotta and Ausilio are waiting for a move from Friedkin, but are evaluating alternatives in midfield. Meanwhile, 30 million euros are arriving from Asllani and Zalewski

Today, Inter will sit around a large table on the tenth floor of Viale della Liberazione – in Appiano, meanwhile, it will be a quiet second day – and try to bring some order to the chaos: between restless Nigerian exiles, French players who seem to be on their way out (only in appearance) and sudden sales, the Nerazzurri transfer market has been a mess in recent weeks. Even when the fire seemed to have gone out, however, the pot was still boiling. Now, though, the Nerazzurri club is ready to change the recipe and make a new, philosophical and definitive choice. Everything, after all, starts with intuition on the bench: Cristian Chivu saw the team’s needs change as he pushed them hard in training, and the management and owners are ready to adapt.

This is another reason why the purchase of Ademola Lookman is fading on the horizon, despite the $17 million received from Atalanta for Zalewski: it shows that a channel has been reopened with Bergamo after some time, but it is not enough. The two stories respond to different logics, are separate and will remain so: one was a lightning war blitz, the other an exhausting negotiation that has now been frozen indefinitely. If the Nigerian striker, who is still training in Portugal, has slipped down the Nerazzurri hierarchy, the need for a great midfielder for Chivu is clear. Someone who is physically strong and has good touch, defensive and offensive at the same time. A burst of energy in a department of excellence, which has remained unchanged for years. In short, someone like Manu Koné, the Roman centurion who, around mid-August, seemed set to don the Nerazzurri shirt, only to have it pulled away from him.

The wait—  The 24-year-old Giallorossi player and French international was about to discuss the details of his contract with Inter before the turmoil in the capital led Roma to call Inter to take him off the market. In Trigoria, however, the situation is said to be very fluid and there is no longer a total closure on the sale of Koné: Gasperini’s balancing act in his statements on Saturday after the friendly against Saudi Arabia’s Neom was interpreted in this light. In essence, Roma would like to conclude their transfer business without losing any of their big names, but the constraints of the UEFA Settlement Agreement, combined with the need to rebuild the attack for Gasp, could force them to make a painful loss, and never mind if the fans don’t understand right away. Right here, amid the turmoil at Roma, Inter are waiting: their interest in Koné has not waned, but they are not happy with the indecision in the capital. Since the afternoon of August 15, president Beppe Marotta and sporting director Piero Ausilio have had no contact with their Roman counterparts, nor have there been any official signs of a change in Roma’s strategy, but they are well aware that the deal could suddenly reopen in the coming hours. For this reason, they are watching from a distance and waiting for any moves from Rome: the sum allocated for Lookman, starting at $40 million, is ready to be diverted to Manu, if only the Friedkins give the green light to really negotiate. There is also a small difference between this potential deal and the previous faltering talks for Lookman: for a 24-year-old like Manu, the Nerazzurri would have room to add a few million more if necessary. For 28-year-old Ademola, there was not the same openness, as Dea knows.

pugno sul tavolo—  Inter does not live by Koné alone, and rightly so: the Nerazzurri are also evaluating alternatives, especially abroad. They are exploring midfielders in other leagues in search of a player with similar characteristics to the Frenchman. If talks with the capital do not resume, the directors will be ready. In this case, as when Lookman was at the top of their list, Inter will spend carefully, weighing up the scale of the deal: the offer will only be made for a real coup, for a player who is a punch on the Serie A table and capable of changing the soul of the team. At the moment, the Nerazzurri see this figure as a savior in midfield, because up front they have seen the dizzying growth of Pio and Bonny. They are also evaluating the possibility of advancing the range of action of Frattesi, a striker still courted by Newcastle. In short, barring any new opportunities or shocks, the attack is fine as it is, while the midfield is changing. Among other things, Kristjan Asllani is saying goodbye to move to Bologna, leaving a spot open. The Nerazzurri are aiming to cash in around €1 million for the Albanian, which, added to the €17 million fresh from Zalewski, makes more than €30 million ready to use. Just before the last two weeks of the transfer market, this is extra ammunition to keep Chivu happy, even in defense.