Inter Milan are poised to make the loan signing of defender Manuel Akanji permanent, with the obligation to buy set to be triggered following the club's Serie A title victory. According to the terms of the deal agreed with Manchester City last September, Akanji's move will become mandatory for a fee of 15 million euros once Inter secures the championship, a condition they are expected to meet this weekend.
Akanji arrived at Inter on a one-million-euro loan deal as a last-minute replacement for Benjamin Pavard, who joined Olympique Marseille. The Swiss international had reportedly turned down an approach from city rivals AC Milan just days prior. The obligation clause was contingent on two factors: Akanji playing in 50% of Inter's matches, which he has already achieved with 43 appearances, and the club winning the Scudetto.
Under manager Cristian Chivu, Akanji has become a pivotal figure, unexpectedly establishing himself as the central defender in Inter's back three. His pace and one-on-one defending, honed during his time under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, have seen him displace veteran stalwarts Francesco Acerbi and Stefan de Vrij for significant periods. This tactical shift is seen as a defining feature of Chivu's adaptation of Simone Inzaghi's system.
With the transfer effectively an internal formality, Akanji is now viewed as the only defender guaranteed to be at the club next season. While Alessandro Bastoni is a target for Barcelona, and the futures of Acerbi, Matteo Darmian, and De Vrij remain uncertain as their contracts expire, Akanji's position is secure. Yann Bisseck is also in talks over a new contract, and Carlos Augusto is wanted by Roma but considered important by Inter.
The impending deal for Akanji follows Inter's recent pattern of early summer business, with the club having previously secured deals for the likes of Piotr Zielinski and Mehdi Taremi well in advance. Looking ahead, Inter's defensive rebuild is expected to continue, with Sassuolo's Tarik Muharemovic already having agreed personal terms, though a fee with his club is yet to be settled. Udinese's Oumar Solet is also reportedly on the radar of sporting director Piero Ausilio.
