Inter Milan Rejects Wingback Swap with Manchester United: Two Key Reasons for Closing the Door on an English Transfer

In the final stages of the Supercoppa Italiana match between Inter Milan and Napoli, there were some worrying scenes. In the 76th minute, as Inter pressed forward, the left-sided player looked right, only to find wingback Darmian struggling with a leg issue, leaning on the field and unable to continue. Consequently, players had to adjust their positions, with Pavard temporarily taking over as wingback, while the fatigued Darmian stayed back. This highlighted that Inter's "second mule" had finally reached his physical limit after months of grueling effort. Although he escaped injury, the 34-year-old veteran is so exhausted that resting for 1-2 games might not suffice for full recovery. This has led many to wonder: why has Dumfries seemingly vanished? Even if Dumfries was previously injured or not in top form, he would still be better than the completely drained Darmian, so why isn’t he even coming off the bench? What exactly is going on? Could it be a contract dispute or dissatisfaction over his wages?

The subsequent championship celebration confirmed that Dumfries was neither injured nor unhappy. The only plausible explanation is that there are other reasons preventing coach Simone Inzaghi from fielding Dumfries during this sensitive period when the transfer window is still open. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the reason is that Inzaghi is wary of deploying Dumfries as the player and his team are currently distracted by transfer talks. Both Italian and English media have reported that Inter and Manchester United have been discussing a deal involving Dumfries. Some British media claimed that Inter proposed a swap deal involving Dumfries and Wan-Bissaka, but United promptly rejected the idea. The English press even mocked Inter for daring to consider such a move for a top-tier English player.

However, Italian sources present a different narrative. La Gazzetta dello Sport points out that Inter was not the initiator of the proposed transaction (likely initiated by agents or intermediaries). On the contrary, Inter's stance is clear: they do not want to lose a key player during this critical phase when they are aiming for their second star. Essentially, even if Manchester United had offered Wan-Bissaka in exchange, Inter would have still said no. The identity of the party that rejected the deal is irrelevant; what matters is that neither club is interested, and the transaction is off the table.

Both Dumfries and Wan-Bissaka have contracts expiring in 2025 and have similar market valuations according to Transfermarkt. Dumfries poses a dilemma for Inter as he demands a post-tax salary of €5 million (about €10 million pre-tax after the abolition of the new tax law), which equates to roughly £167,000 per week in the Premier League. Even in the affluent English league, such earnings are rare for a full-back/wingback. Unsurprisingly, Inter is reluctant to meet these demands. Consequently, Dumfries has refused to renew his contract, and with just one year remaining after this season, Inter has no choice but to consider selling him in the summer to avoid losing him for nothing when his contract expires. However, selling him at a good price is easier said than done. Despite his strong performances post-World Cup, his agent's attempts to market him in the Premier League have yielded no substantial offers. Will a high bid come this summer? That remains uncertain.

Given this situation, many wonder why Inter is unwilling to consider such a swap deal. Market experts indicate that the main reasons are twofold. Firstly, the playing styles do not match. Dumfries' value to Inter lies in his physicality, combativeness, and offensive prowess. In contrast, Wan-Bissaka is a more defensive player with limited attacking capabilities. Regardless of their respective skill levels, Wan-Bissaka cannot directly replace Dumfries’ role in the team.

Secondly, there is the matter of tactical fit. Wan-Bissaka has played over a hundred matches for Manchester United, primarily as a full-back in a four-man defense, and has limited experience as a wingback in a three-man defense. In essence, even if the swap were to happen, it is questionable whether Wan-Bissaka could seamlessly integrate into Inter’s system. A new player would require significant effort from the coach to adapt, and there could be costly mistakes on the field. Under normal circumstances, this would be acceptable, but with Juventus closing in and the Champions League knockout stages approaching, Inzaghi is unlikely to take such a risk. Thus, Inter is not considering pushing for this swap deal.

In summary, Inter’s management hopes the transfer window closes quickly so players can refocus on their duties. This situation also places higher demands on Inter's management. Since renewal talks broke down, it has been clear to everyone that Inter would eventually place the Dutchman on the transfer market. The key question now is whether the player can maintain the drive to give his all for Inter. A top-level professional attitude will be crucial, as playing well is not just for Inter’s benefit but for his own future. In football, securing a lucrative contract relies not solely on an agent's efforts but also on the player's performance on the field.