Reigning Serie A champions Inter have reportedly identified Empoli midfielder Kristjan Asllani as a potential summer target. According to Tuttosport (via SempreInter), Simone Inzaghi’s recruitment team has laid their eyes on the 20-year-old, who has impressed this season.
While monitoring their loanee Andrea Pinamonti‘s development at Empoli, Inter have spotted out Asllani, who has gone from strength to strength at the Tuscan club. After a bit underwhelming start to the season, the Albania U21 international has grown into a regular first-team player following Samuele Ricci’s winter switch to Torino.
Asllani alternated between Empoli’s senior team and U21 squad at the beginning of the season. However, he has taken advantage of Ricci’s departure to stake his claim for a regular starting berth. His commitment has persuaded head coach Aurelio Andreazzoli to hand him 13 Serie A appearances this term.
Asllani’s eye-catching growth has not gone unnoticed as Inter now look to take him to Giuseppe Meazza in the summer. The Nerazzurri are in the market for new midfield options. Roberto Gagliardini, Matias Vecino and Arturo Vidal are all expected to leave the club when their contracts expire at the end of the season.
So Inter could face the risk of finding themselves short of options in the engine room next season. The Nerazzurri CEO Beppe Marotta is scouring the market for reinforcements, and Asllani has caught his attention. Able to cover a multitude of roles in the middle of the park, the Albanian could be a long-term replacement for either of the abovementioned trio.
Asllani’s favorite position is a defensive midfield, but he is equally versed in thriving in a more advanced role. Since Inter will have to work on a limited budget, he could be one of Marotta’s most realistic targets in the upcoming transfer window. Empoli have yet to name their price for the prodigious youngster, but his price tag should be well within Inter’s reach.