Who Will Replace Lukaku at Inter? Ranking the Five Most Likely Candidates

Calciomercato, Inter Milan, Italian Football, Serie A, Transfer Market

Calcio fans probably know it by now, but happiness is never meant to last for Italian football addicts. If the summer of 2006 didn’t prove it already, here were are, 15 years later, witnessing another bittersweet off-season. Whilst Roberto Mancini’s men filled the hearts of Azzurri fans – within the peninsula and beyond – with pride and joy, the transfer market is proving to me a stern reminder of the dire state of Italian football.

While most of the top clubs are struggling to fill the necessary voids within their squads, the reigning champions are simply getting dismantled, as the owning company is facing some deep financial troubles. Inter saw their manager Antonio Conte walk away few days after the end of last season, and he was soon followed by Achraf Hakimi who was sold to PSG, with Romelu Lukaku set to follow suit.

The Belgian giant will seal a return to Chelsea in a massive deal worth 115 million euros. The 28-year-old completed the first part of his medical tests in the city of Milano on Monday , thus adding insult to injury, as a good friend and colleague of mine described it.

Naturally, the Beneamata management are now hustling to secure a replacement for their departing star, with several names being mentioned – and perhaps two of them are expected to join. So let’s take a look at the five main candidates and rank them from the least to the most likely arrival at Inter this summer.

5- Dusan Vlahovic (Fiorentina)

Following a breakthrough season that saw him scoring 20+ goals, the Fiorentina man has cemented himself as one of the most sought-after center forwards in Europe – perhaps only behind Erling Braut Haaland.

Therefore, the club’s management decided to slap a heft transfer price on his back, which could be around 70 millions.

Despite selling Hakimi and Lukaku, Inter are still struggling to fill their coffers, and thus, they’re unlikely to be able to secure the services of the young Serbian.

4- Andrea Belotti (Torino)

With only a year left on his contract, Torino would be wise to sell their captain this summer and make some profit out of the deal.

However, Il Gallo doesn’t seem to be high on the Giuseppe Marotta’s shortlist, with the three names below being the favorites to land in Milano in the few days to come.

3- Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)

If the objective for Inter is to replace Lukaku with a reminiscent striker, then they should look no further. The Colombian is a big physical center forward with a sublime finishing touch, and is brilliant at setting up the ball for his teammates.

While some reports claim that the Atalanta man is incredibly close to sign a deal with the Nerazzurri, others believe that his price tag (reportedly set at 40 millions) drove away the defending champions.

2- Joaquin Correa (Lazio)

Although he’s the least similar option to the Belgian, the Lazio forward is extremely likely to reunite with Simone Inzaghi in Northern Italy.

The Argentine can’t replace Lukaku in the number 9 role, but he could allow his compatriot Lautaro Martinez to play closer to the opposition’s goal while he slots in his favorite supporting striker position.

1- Edin Dzeko (Roma)

The Bosnian has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Beneamata during Antonio Conte’s reign, but the transfer seems destined to take place during the week.

The veteran’s time for with Roma has rightfully reached its end, and even though replacing Lukaku is an extremely tough task, Inter would be able to rely on an experienced target man during what is expected to be a complicated campaign for Inzaghi and his men.

Read More – Winners and Losers in the Lukaku Transfer to Chelsea Saga

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