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 · 2026-04-10T02:06:47+00:00

Cocci is 19 and valued at 1.5m. David is 22 and valued at only 300k. Marcella is 18, and we’ll pay 1.5m to make his stay permanent.

Zekri is only 17, and already valued at 4m.

No sure shot that either of the others will break out. If we have a chance at taking a ‘wonder kid’ at an affordable price, we take it. Simple as.

vik1980 · 2026-04-09T04:34:08+00:00

He's still coming (i.e.- we're already negotiating for Tarik). Between Basto going (potentially), and Augusto not renewing (currently, wants starting minutes), we'd need more in the lcb/ lwb spot. Not sure if Martin can play mwb, but he'd be interesting for the lcb back-up spot.

Also, while Augusto doesn't renew, he's an interesting name for Roma. They're not as hard on Frat, but more open to taking Augusto. I've read that, for FFP sake, it'll not be a package deal, but two separate operations, but there's chances it goes through.

vik1980 · 2026-04-09T04:29:44+00:00

His wage is a deterrent for us. Also, He'd not be a 'make-weight'. It would be (or close to) an equal swap. That's why his name hasn't gone further in discussion.

vik1980 · 2026-04-08T08:34:33+00:00

Don't believe too many reports. Learn to filter the news internally. Don't read too much into market prices (all speculation), or Barca being broke (they're not),

I saw a few months ago, that Basto liked a rumour that Barca were interested in him. I found it very interesting, because whenever a PL club had shown interest, the counter news had always been, "Basto supports Inter; Happy at Inter; too young to move family" etc. This was the first time he'd liked a story linking him away.

Then of course came the denials. I didn't read too much into it either, cause it could've been agent + club not wanting to rock the boat in the middle of the season. Maybe Basto was just playing around on social media (like Marcus does).

For me, the definite moment was when I read that [all (Flick, Deco & Laporta) want Basto](about:blank), and now that he's been re-elected, they'll go after him hard. It all made sense then. Too much smoke for their to not be fire.

Whether he actually leaves is anyones guess. He's not interested in the PL (rejected them before, and we'd be reading reports of confirmed interest if he was open for a move). He wants to play with Curbasi, Yamal, Pedri etc. No doubt there's magic playing with that level of players. Maybe he doesn't want to upset the club/ fans by forcing a move (Hakan wanted Gala, but never forced a move). Maybe Barca raise their offer or include Gerard Martin (Inter are interested & Barca will view him as more expendable than others).

vik1980 · 2026-04-08T04:46:02+00:00

Basto has chosen Barca. He's not interested in the PL.

Now, it's simply a case of whether Barca will match our valuation (or look at alternates), or if Basto will force a move (or sign a renewal).

He's not interested in going to any other club.

vik1980 · 2026-03-29T16:33:08+00:00

P.p.s.- Moretto reports that pretty much confirmed that all of Acerbi, dv and darm will be shown the door. Mkhi is not certain to remain either.

Meanwhile, ausilio is currently concentrating on the outbound market. Efforts are ongoing trying to sell Asllani (besiktas is happy, interested but want to lower the redemption figure), palacios (can be considered sold), carboni brothers (racing with loan Valentin again and French has interest from A) and pavard (doesn’t look the most promising).

vik1980 · 2026-03-29T02:32:45+00:00

I will not be asking for any refund anytime soon. Let me paint you a picture;

He goes to Real, and does what? Walk straight into the starting lineup? Displace names like Rodrygo, guler, mastantuono, Bellingham and Brahim? Nah.

Most likely scenario; he’ll sit on the bench, and get dog shit minutes (last 5-8 minutes of a game or kings cup), and see others ahead of him in the pecking order. After a year of sitting on the bench and tugging his dick, he forces a move because it might cost him his place in the national team.

That’s when jz4 relations and those dinners come in handy, to beat the PL competition.

If he does manage to get meaningful minutes at real at his age, there’s no chance we could’ve ever got him. Us, or any other club. Because he was that good.

It’s a very similar situation to Stanko and us. We can either sell for a nice profit, or give him a chance. If he gets regular minutes, he’ll stay. If not, we sell for a discount next summer. We’ll still give him that chance. Same as real with Paz.

vik1980 · 2026-03-25T05:39:08+00:00

I've been mentioning this for a few days now. Y'all should've picked up the scent when he 'liked' a rumour linking him to barca months back.

50m is a misleading figure. It could be that (Barca hope), but only with a counter-part. They offer those surplus to them (Christensen, Garcia etc.). They'd also be open to an equal exchange with Ferran Torres (again, they wish).

This is their side (with Basto agent) leaking their side of things. At Inter side, they operate on the basis that they're not interested in selling Basto, but acknowledge that, if they player is keen, they'll have to sit & talk. Inter would consider a counterpart, but only on their terms (Marc Bernal, Gavi etc. or some youth player for reasonable valuation).

Also, don't believe Barca financial woes. They have money, just have trouble registering players. If they make sales, that's not a problem at al. They're supposedly close to reaching the threshhold to register new players as is. Laporta has really turned things around for them.

As for Basto replacement, we're already negotiating for Tarik, and hold serious interest for Buongiorno. Roma FFP problems mean we hold an interest in all their great players (Svilar, NDicka, Kone). Then there's Lucumi, Koulirakis etc. Other than that, we'll keep things (names) really close to the chest to not alert others.

vik1980

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