Sought-after Lille defender Tiago Djalo could reportedly become the latest free agent to join Inter upon the expiry of his contract. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italians have already laid the groundwork for the 23-year-old’s arrival on a Bosman deal at the end of the season.
Signing top-class stars without compensation fees has become an Inter thing under Beppe Marotta and Piero Ausilio. From Stefan de Vrij and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to Andre Onana and Marcus Thuram, Nerazzurri have captured numerous quality players on free transfers in recent years.
There’s a decent probability that Djalo could be the next in line. Inter established first contact with Lille over the ex-Milan youngster’s availability in January 2023. The club’s initial thought was to land him as a replacement for Milan Skriniar.
Even then, the Slovak’s departure was a near-certainty. But when it did happen over the summer, Inter bailed on Djalo. It wasn’t because they were second-guessing but because the player was in the midst of a recovery from a nasty knee injury. In fact, he still is.
Despite being ruled out for almost the entire calendar year, Djalo’s skills remain in high demand. Milan, Juventus, and Barcelona are hot on his heels, but Inter are at the top of the queue. Benjamin Pavard’s arrival toward the end of the summer hasn’t changed their plans.
With the Frenchman recently succumbing to a potentially long-term injury, Inter are back at square one, with Matteo Darmian, De Vrij, Francesco Acerbi, and Alessandro Bastoni remaining the only options at Simone Inzaghi’s disposal.
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