Inter Transfer Market: Alternative to De Vrij Ready

Stefan De Vrij does not seem willing to extend his contract by accepting a pay cut from Inter. Panathinaikos, a Greek club, is showing strong interest in the veteran Dutch defender and is ready to offer him a two-year deal worth 3 million euros per season.

Should the former Lazio player leave Milan, the “Biscione” might look toward a more economical solution. In this scenario, one of the leading candidates is Leo Ostigard, a Norwegian center back born in 1999 who currently plays for Genoa, is already well-established in Italian soccer, and is currently representing his national team at the World Cup.

De Vrij’s departure is part of a major overhaul of the Nerazzurri’s defense. Having won their 21st Scudetto, the management team led by Marotta and Ausilio has planned a significant overhaul of the defense: in addition to the Dutch center back, Francesco Acerbi and Matteo Darmian are also leaving Pinetina on free transfers. To offset these departures, the permanent signing of Manuel Akanji from Manchester City—which was automatically triggered by winning the title—has ensured continuity in the backline, while coach Cristian Chivu can count on Alessandro Bastoni and Yann Bisseck as pillars for the future.

To replace the departing players, Inter had evaluated several prospects on the transfer market. Among the names monitored most closely was that of Tarik Muharemovic, a left-footed Bosnian defender born in 2001 who plays for Sassuolo, valued at between 30 and 35 million euros. The Nerazzurri had stepped up their efforts in recent weeks, even securing the player’s interest, but the deal proved complicated, partly due to the 50% share of any future transfer fee that Juventus retains on the player’s contract.