January market heats up as Inter Milan and rivals plan key moves

Italian daily outlines Inter Milan targets and Juventus interest in a Nerazzurri midfielder

The Scudetto race is wide open, with Inter Milan, AC Milan, Napoli, Roma and Juventus all battling at the top and preparing to strengthen their squads ahead of the January transfer window.

AC Milan have already made their first move, welcoming Niclas Füllkrug to fill the gap at number nine. 

The deal is a low-cost solution: a loan until June with an option to buy. According to Corriere della Sera via Fcinter1908, the Rossoneri are also working on Andrej Kostic, an 18-year-old from Partizan, in a deal worth around €5 million (£4.3m). 

For a marquee signing, however, AC Milan will likely wait until summer, with Dusan Vlahovic once again high on Massimiliano Allegri’s wish list.

AS Roma, AC Milan and defensive dominoes

AS Roma are also active in the attacking market, with Joshua Zirkzee and Giacomo Raspadori the two main names under consideration. 

Zirkzee could arrive from Manchester United on a paid loan with an obligation to buy if AS Roma qualify for the Champions League, for a fee close to €40 million (£34.5m). Raspadori, currently at Atlético Madrid, is another loan option despite a role already covered by Pellegrini.

In defense, AS Roma are targeting Axel Disasi, who is set to leave Chelsea. AC Milan are monitoring the situation closely, while also keeping an eye on Eric Dier at Monaco.

Inter Milan defensive concerns and Juventus link

Inter Milan and Napoli share similar defensive issues. For Inter Milan, the age of Francesco Acerbi (37) and Stefan de Vrij (33), with the latter potentially leaving as early as January, makes reinforcements a priority.

The new name emerging is Tarik Muharemovic of Sassuolo, a 22-year-old Slovenian defender. 

Juventus, who helped launch his career, retain a sell-on percentage. That means any Inter Milan move could generate funds for the Bianconeri, possibly to be reinvested in a bold attempt to sign Davide Frattesi from Inter Milan in a fascinating market crossover.

Frattesi is highly appreciated by Luciano Spalletti, but Beppe Marotta and Piero Ausilio value him at around €30 million (£25.9m) and are reluctant to sell to a direct rival.

Shared targets and Napoli’s free-agent strategy

Inter Milan and Juventus also share a major objective for June: Marco Palestra of Atalanta, currently on loan at Cagliari. 

A January move is considered impossible, even though Dumfries’ absence for Chivu and squad gaps for Spalletti could push for earlier action.

Juventus are searching for a deputy to Kenan Yildiz and are considering Pierre-Emile Højbjerg of Marseille, with the French club interested in Locatelli, as well as Morten Hjulmand from Sporting Lisbon.

Napoli, meanwhile, could intervene in midfield. Kobbie Mainoo is admired, but the Azzurri’s strategy requires any deal to be completed on a free transfer.