Inter Milan are prioritizing the signing of Atalanta midfielder Manu Koné as they prepare for a tactical shift to a 3-4-2-1 formation, according to reports from Italy. A meeting between Cristian Chivu, Inter’s sporting director, and the club’s leadership including Marotta, Ausilio, and Baccin took place to discuss summer transfer strategy.
The potential move for Koné is linked to Atalanta’s need to balance their finances, potentially making the French player available. Inter previously pursued Koné last summer, and believe he could replicate the impact Mandela Keita had for the club during his time at Parma. Roma are reportedly seeking €40 million for the player, and Inter will need to finalize the deal before June 30th to comply with UEFA’s financial fair play regulations.
Inter manager Cristian Chivu and the club’s directors believe that adding a player of Koné’s quality to the midfield will allow the team to play with an additional attacker. The club is also monitoring Liverpool’s Curtis Jones, who is reportedly unhappy under new manager Arne Slot and has been signalling his interest in a move to Inter via social media. However, Liverpool have yet to set a price for Jones, and Inter will assess the situation once a valuation is provided.
Beyond Koné and Jones, Inter are also considering future investments. They are set to re-sign Aleksandar Stankovic from Club Brugge, though his long-term future at the club is uncertain due to potential offers from other teams. The club also retains an interest in Nico Paz, while keeping an eye on potential replacements for Denzel Dumfries, who is attracting interest from Premier League clubs and has a release clause of €25 million. In defense, Stefan de Vrij is expected to renew his contract on reduced terms, while Benjamin Pavard will not be retained after his loan spell with Marseille.
Chivu is set to extend his contract with Inter until 2028 with a significant pay rise exceeding €3 million plus bonuses. His primary focus remains building a competitive squad capable of challenging for titles, and the planned midfield reinforcements are a key part of that strategy.
