Inter Milan is reportedly at the forefront in the pursuit of Tarik Muharemovic, but ongoing discussions with Sassuolo could potentially broaden to include Ismael Koné. Koné has just completed a commendable inaugural season in Serie A, having previously been deemed surplus to requirements by Olympique Marseille.
As reported by TuttoSport, the Nerazzurri appear to be initiating preparations for a comprehensive revamp of their midfield. Key players such as Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Davide Frattesi, and Hakan Calhanoglu are all potential departures for various reasons. The club already secured Yanis Massolin from Modena in January and is expected to re-sign Aleksander Stankovic from Club Brugge for a fee of €23 million.
Inter’s ambitions might not conclude there, with a potential bid for Koné on the horizon. He would bring valuable defensive attributes to their ranks. Sassuolo leveraged Koné’s previous disagreements with coach Roberto De Zerbi to secure him, initially on a €2.5 million loan, before activating a €12.5 million buy option. Club director Giovanni Carnevali has openly stated a €30 million valuation for the player.
The 23-year-old midfielder has found the back of the net 5 times this season. His career history also includes stints with Montreal CF, Watford, and Rennes. He boasts an impressive 37 international caps for Canada.
Furthermore, the Nerazzurri have gathered intelligence on Leon Goretzka, who is seeking an annual salary of approximately €6.5 million, aligning with the wages of Nicolò Barella and Hakan Calhanoglu. However, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid currently hold a stronger position in the race for his signature compared to the Serie A contenders.
Our Assessment of Inter and Koné
Koné is enjoying an exceptional season, proving to be an effective contributor in both offensive and defensive phases, demonstrating a good instinct for goal despite limited opportunities. Nevertheless, his superiority over Andy Diouf might not be significant enough to warrant the reported transfer fee. Unless there’s a directive from higher management, it’s improbable that Inter would pursue exclusively young talents if they are indeed set to lose two seasoned veterans, as such a void in leadership could prove detrimental.
