Zenit St Petersburg loanee Robert Renan is now the leading candidate to address a lack of defensive options at Inter. According to Sky Sport Italia, via FCInterNews, there’s a chance the reigning Scudetto holders can bargain down the Russian club’s €20 million asking price for the 20-year-old center-back.
Inter seemed on the verge of signing Juan Cabal from Hellas Verona, only for Juventus to hijack their pursuit of the Colombian youngster at the 11th hour. After Cabal joined the Bianconeri, Simone Inzaghi’s men have widened their search for a new central defender to deputize for Alessandro Bastoni on the left of the back three.
Though ex-Torino captain Ricardo Rodriguez is still an option for Inter, Beppe Marotta sees Renan as a more suitable profile. Despite joining Zenit from Corinthians only last summer, the Brazilian teenager is currently on loan at Internacional in his homeland.
Renan’s contract at Zenit contains a substantial €26m release clause. However, Inter would never pay a fee of that size for an up-and-coming talent. Meanwhile, the Russians are reportedly holding out for €20m. Yet, Marotta and his associates believe they could drive the price beneath that mark.
If Inter can find common ground with Zenit, it would probably result in the termination of Renan’s loan spell in his native Brazil. His potential arrival would allow Carlos Augusto to perform exclusively as a left wingback after spending most of last season filling the gap in the back three.
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