Inter target Bosnia winger Kerim Alajbegovic after World Cup heroics
Inter have joined the race to sign Bosnia and Herzegovina winger Kerim Alajbegovic, the young star whose penalty knocked Italy out of World Cup qualifying last month. According to reports from Italy, the Nerazzurri are exploring a deal for the 19-year-old, who is currently on loan at Red Bull Salzburg from Bayer Leverkusen, with former Serie A midfielder Miralem Pjanic acting as an intermediary.
Alajbegovic emerged as a target for several top European clubs after his decisive role in Bosnia's playoff victory over Italy, coming off the bench to cause problems and coolly converting in the penalty shootout. His performances this season in Austria have further bolstered his reputation; he has been a regular starter for Salzburg, contributing 12 goals and 4 assists across all competitions. Despite being under contract with Leverkusen until 2029, the player is reportedly determined not to return to the Bundesliga club, which had previously loaned him out, and sees a move to Serie A as the ideal next step.
Inter’s interest is said to be concrete, with head coach Cristian Chivu viewing Alajbegovic as a potential source of unpredictability and dynamism in the attacking third. The club is not alone in its pursuit, with Arsenal, Napoli, Milan, and Roma also linked, but Inter have moved proactively by engaging Pjanic and the player's father in early discussions. Leverkusen hold a buy-back clause valued at around €8 million, a factor that will complicate any negotiations for the German club's European rivals.
This potential move forms part of a broader Bosnian recruitment strategy for Inter. The club is also advancing in talks to sign defender Tarik Muharemovic from Sassuolo, with an agreement on personal terms for a five-year contract already in place. A deal for the former Juventus Next Gen centre-back could be finalized with a cash payment plus a technical counterpart from Inter's youth sector. Securing both Alajbegovic and Muharemovic would see Inter reunite the duo responsible for Italy's World Cup elimination, aiming to transform that night's disappointment for Azzurri fans into future success for the Nerazzurri.
The pursuit of Alajbegovic signals Inter's intent to inject youthful attacking talent into their squad, seeking a player capable of making an immediate impact while possessing significant resale value. With several high-earning players approaching the end of their contracts, the club is positioning itself to be active in a targeted market. How aggressively Inter will push to meet Leverkusen's demands for a permanent transfer, as opposed to pursuing another loan, remains the central question as the summer window approaches.
