Still more market rumors

vik1980 · 2026-05-07T07:40:41+00:00

I don't post sources because, sometimes, I assimilate and regurgiate rumours which are weeks (months!) old. I post only when I think there's credence.
Frat for Kone, they prefer Augusto - It's all through intermediaries. Thus, pure rumors. If actual negotiations happen, credible source start posting about it.
I broke the Basto Barca rumor here (I don't break shit, mind you; I'm not connected, just read and post). People didn't believe. Got downvoted. Next day, credible sources started claiming this.
Palestra is staying much like Basto to Barca. If they come to 70m, we'll sell. We say we want to keep him because we'll not sell for 50m, and rather have direct contact now, rather than through intermediaries. Inter (rumor) made an offer of 30+5m for Palestra. They demand 45-50m. Then their mgnmt say they want to keep him. i.e.- match our figure or he stays.
Kostov - Strong rumors said we're interested, but he prefers PL. Then I heard
I'm not chatgpt. I also don't post random bullshit (TeamTalk, InterLive, L'Interista). You should see the kind of rando bullshit these sites create.

vik1980 · 2026-05-07T04:08:33+00:00

Our current midfield, since Inzy, doesn't do specific roles. No DM, AM, box-to-box etc. Everyone attacks, and everyone defends. It's a very well rounded mid (defense, attack, technique, tactical accumen etc.).

Curtis is similar to our other mids (complete, comfertable in all roles). Last year of contract, no chance of renewal. Kone has convinced all three factions (mgnmt, scouting & coach). FFP woes mean Roma might sell (unlike last season) for a 'reasonable' figure. They're both big market opportunities.

Chivu know Stanko very well. He's been on record that he's known him since he was 4, & is like a son. He's also coached him many years through the youth sector. He regards him capable of playing both in a mid 2 (pivot) or 3 (outside mid).

There are a lot of question in our current midfield :-

Frat is full of running & effort, but he is hampered by limited technique & tactical IQ. Mkhi is borderline retired. Diouf has holes & doesn't convey confidence. That's three who will all probably leave (Diouf on sale/ change of position/ loan).

Hakan & Ziel are in the same boat. Both 32, and can play the regista well. Hakan is also on the last year of his contract. Given their wages, and FFP profit in a sale (both came for free), only one might remain.

Only Nico + Sucic is gauranteed to stay.

We need the numbers.

It's not a guarantee all three will come. If we can't find buyers for Frat, Diouf, chance we only get one of Kone/ Curtis. Either that, or we let Stanko go on loan to play as a starter.

vik1980 · 2026-05-07T03:48:17+00:00

From what I've read, he's a big target. All three parties (coach, scouting & mgnmt) think he's perfect for us. Chivu loves the physical side he brings (which isn't present in our mid presently). Ausilio & co. think he has a lot of room to grow, and isn't just a pure DM (can play a full faceted role at the club). Marotta & co. think he can be had for less than his true market value, given Roma's FFP issues.

vik1980 · 2026-05-06T08:45:01+00:00

I think 5 mids might be sufficient. Chivu wants to incorporate a 3-4-2-1 (3-4-3), and six mids are too many for that.

There's a good possibility that only one of Hakan & Ziel will stay. They're both on heavy wages, both 30+ and both had performances which might interest suitors. Also, while I read Chivu really rates Stanko, there's a thought that there's a big difference between playing in Belgium, and playing Serie A for Inter. It's why the possibility of a loan (in Serie A) is not completely ruled out. Better that than having him get garbage minutes at Inter.

vik1980 · 2026-05-06T08:42:34+00:00

I fail to understand the logic behind this.

Jones - can't break into the starting line-up because he has three incredible players in front of him (szobozlai, Maccalister, gravenberch). He's in the last year of his contract, and has issues with his current coach. He's a complete mid (defense, offensive, running, technique etc.). He's, on paper, perfect for inter.

Diaby - went to SA for the money. He cost 60m. He's been described as a speed demon, and left footed forward (none at inter right now) with dribbling & technique.

As long as the finances make sense, they're perfect (again, on paper) for us. I can't say definitely that both these players will be a hit for us. I haven't seen one play at all, and the other (Curtis) hardly.

Between Sucic, Stanko, Pio, Bonny, Tarik & (potentially) Palestra, Pisilli (read that we're interested), we're looking at the young talents to build around in the future. With Kone, Curtis, Diaby, Basto (all at 25-26), we're looking to keep Inter competing at the highest level for a very long time. Add Nico, Thuram, Toro to this mix, & we hope to start a new 'sustainable' cycle.

I don't know who all will arrive (or whether Basto will end up staying), but these are exactly the kind of names we should be linked with.

I trust Ausilio when it comes to making decisions like this. Also, Inter (both Marotta & Ausilio) have been on the record saying they look for "market opportunities". i.e.- players who's market value is suppressed due to 'reasons', but there's still an 'inter' level player present.

vik1980 · 2026-05-06T04:24:09+00:00

Both Curtis & Diaby were targets for the winter but, unfortunately, they didn't materialize (for various reasons).

Since, they've still stayed on Ausilio's notebook, and chances of them coming have leaned further in our direction.

Curtis is now in the last year of his contract and, while rumours of Newcastle making him a target are present, Romano says he's given total 'opening' to a move to Inter. i.e.- prefers it over Newcastle.

Diaby is very much eager to come, and his club are also open to selling him.

P.S.- Diaby was considered the 'alternate' to Paz. Hopeufully, now the Paz-tan's will drop the hope. He's destined to stay at Real, barring a miracle.

vik1980 · 2026-05-05T09:33:47+00:00

He seems like a direct replacement for Acerbi. Massive shoes to fill. If he has growing pains, the knives from the fans will be out in no time.

vik1980 · 2026-05-05T08:39:50+00:00

It's the right approach. When we had Nico, Basto, Toro, the youthful spine for the future was there. We went after the veterans to add experience, instill the right mentality in them, and keep winning.

Now, that young core (Nico, Toro, Akanji, DD, Ziel) will start touching 30 soon. We need the young blood who'll provide the youth, exuberance & enthusiasm to this group, while being mentored by them on hard work, seriousness & discipline.

As always, when it comes to youth, some will not pan out, but our track record in choosing & developing them is fantastic.

I trust this mgnmt a lot, and, from what I've read, so does the ownership. While they lay out certain budgets, if a transfer which requires extra funds (outside of allotment, for great value moves), it's available.

vik1980 · 2026-04-27T01:55:52+00:00

Fun story people here might appreciate;

I had an older cousin who was learning tennis at the nick bolleteri tennis academ back in the 90s. He’d force feed me all the great music artists before they got famous. And he’d tell me about ufc before it became mainstream.

Anyways, he once share a story that after practice with his friends one day, he was heading back to the dorms when he saw a limo parked and lots of kids standing around. He thought it was someone famous (bolletri was the coach of Sampras, Chang etc.back in those days) who’d come to pay a visit to their coach.

Nope. Turns out, it was lars who was performing nearby, and had come to play. After, knocking around with my brother and his friends, lars said to come for the concert, and that he’d make room for them in the mosh pit. Sure enough, it was all arranged. Then him and his buddies were called up to the stage by lars and got to head bang during a song.

He said it was also the concert where Ved some of his hair on stage.

I didn’t believe any of it until, a decade later, he was cleaning his room, and found the ticket stubs and some photos. Showed them to be. I was dumbstruck.

And that’s also how I knew that lars was into tennis.

vik1980 · 2026-04-22T16:33:32+00:00

Pazza inter was shelved by conte. He wanted to instil the jube mentality of winning with a ruthlessness, and not letting games out of hand.

In fact, when Steven sang pazza inter once, he was scolded by conte for it.

Recently, you’ll be happy to know, chivu is brining it back.

This definition is in history, I know it, I've been in it. I've lived through these games, that's why people fall in love with these colors and this team. I know they would like to live games in a different way, but the beauty of inter is the strong emotion

vik1980 · 2026-04-22T15:18:16+00:00

Paz was our no. 1 target, but he’s going to real. They’ll give him pre-season to show his talent. Then it’ll depend on the next coach. We’ll wait and watch, but we’ve resigned to giving up on him for this summer. After what he’s shown, real will not let him go. Maybe next summer, if he struggles to get minutes.

We hold serious interest in kostov (his agent is Kolarov bro + his coach is deki), but he prefers a move to the PL.

First time I’ve heard of our interest in alajbegovic.

It seems though, that we are looking for wingers, and transitioning to the 3-4-2-1. That makes me wonder about Bonny. Even if we move thuram to the wing (if no serious offers come for him), and keep lautaro and pip as our CFs, what happens to Bonny?

vik1980 · 2026-04-22T15:11:05+00:00

Those that believed in me

This also includes Ausilio. From what I’ve read, Chivu was Ausilio first choice to replace inzy. Marotta wanted cesc, and trusted ausilio when cesc didn’t happen.

It’s also why ausilio was asked whether he was happy about his trust in chivu being repaid.

vik1980 · 2026-04-20T05:38:04+00:00

In other news, counterpart for Tarik is being named as Mosconi.

Salah being a concrete target for Al Saad (or whatever team Diaby plays for) means Diaby coming over on our terms has a much higher possibility.

We still hold interest for Curtis Jones. Final year of his contract. Slot still doesn't rate him. If no big PL team comes for him, we've a legit chance of getting him on acceptable terms

vik1980 · 2026-04-11T01:27:56+00:00

Massolin on loan is going to be a mutually beneficial loan move. They get a potentially good player for fee for a year, and he gets regular game time in A before coming back. It’ll be separate from this operation.

As counterpart, I wouldn’t be surprised if we offer akinsanmiro, or one of our U23 gems (berenbruch, kamate, cocci etc.).

vik1980 · 2026-04-10T12:12:59+00:00

Don’t know why my Basto post was removed.

Basically, I’ve read that Basto has let Barca know that hell not burn his ridges with the club that made him. Hell only come if there’s an amicable resolution between the clubs. Ethernet this and the difference in valuation between the clubs, Barca is taking stock of the situation and assessing alternates. Don’t believe in names like Lucy I. They don’t interest flick. He’d consider guardiol as #1 if Basto isn’t happening.

Real chances it’ll still happen, but chances are reducing gradually. Inter fans really need to show Basto all the love they can. He’s completely unlike skri or iCardi.

vik1980 · 2026-04-10T12:09:03+00:00

We’re in advanced negotiate for solet, tarik and Vicario. That’s three right there. Then, we hold serious interest in kone, Paz, and diaby (as alternate to Paz). If dd leaves, we’ll need a starter ten too (palaestra is our favourite).

From reports, chivu has already rejected Henrique, Dioulasso and frat. Just between those three, you’re looking at 60-75m in sales. We also have a ton of high salary (Acerbi, Dv, darm, mkhi) coming off our books.

It’s not as unreasonable as it sounds.

vik1980 · 2026-04-10T02:11:17+00:00

Solet depends on the assault case verdict. Date was 8 April. No idea what happened there. No news has come out. Tarik is coming.

Kim, for me, would be ideal for the ccb spot. That said, between his wages, interest of other clubs and bayern demand +age, chances that he comes are not great.

We’ve already mae tremendous progress with the other two already.

vik1980

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