Inter Milan Plan Squad Overhaul Under Chivu, Eye Koné and Diaby
Inter Milan are planning a significant squad overhaul this summer, with manager Cristian Chivu set to sign a new contract and oversee a tactical shift at the club. According to reports, Chivu will extend his contract until 2028, with the club's leadership backing his vision for a more dynamic, vertical style of play. This will involve a strategic shift away from the established 3-5-2 formation that has defined the club in recent years.
The cornerstone of this new project is a change in formation to a 4-3-2-1 system, a move that will necessitate several key signings. The club's sporting directors, Beppe Marotta and Piero Ausilio, are already targeting specific profiles to fit the new system. The primary objective is to inject more pace and verticality into the squad, moving away from a possession-heavy, three-man defensive setup.
In a significant move, the club has identified its primary targets to execute this tactical evolution. According to reports, the primary objectives are Borussia Mönchengladbach's French midfielder Manu Koné and Al Ittihad winger Moussa Diaby. Koné is seen as the ideal dynamic, box-to-box midfielder to energize the new-look midfield, while Diaby's blistering pace is viewed as the key to unlocking the new, more direct attacking system from a wide position.
To finance this squad rebuild and accommodate new signings, Inter will need to generate significant funds through sales. The most notable potential departure is that of defender Alessandro Bastoni, who has been linked with a move to Barcelona and could command a fee in the region of 50 million euros. The club is also open to offers for Denzel Dumfries, Davide Frattesi, and Carlos Augusto, with their sales expected to fund the majority of the summer's transfer activity.
Significant changes are also expected in goal and defense. Goalkeeper Yann Sommer and veteran defenders Francesco Aceri and Stefan de Vrij are all out of contract and will likely depart, as will midfield stalwart Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The club is reportedly closing in on a deal for Manchester City's Manuel Akanji, with a fee of around 15 million euros mentioned, and is also monitoring Lazio's Mario Gila and Udinese's Malick Thiaw as potential defensive reinforcements.
In attack, the club is planning for continuity, with Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram considered untouchable, and the promising Pio Esposito set for a more prominent role. The primary focus of the summer market, however, will be to provide Chivu with the specific, pacy, and technically gifted players required to make his new 4-3-2-1 system a success, with Koné and Diaby at the top of the wish list.
