Inter Milan Unlikely to Re-sign Legends, Eyes on Barca Star for Wingback Role, Considers Alternative Solutions

With Buchanan's injury ruling him out for 4-6 months, Italian media and fans are abuzz with discussions on how Inter Milan should address this pressing need for a wingback. Various journalists have highlighted potential replacements, and it seems clear that two legendary figures are unlikely to return to Inter: Ivan Perisic and Juan Cuadrado.

Perisic's Unlikely Return

Ivan Perisic, who suffered a cruciate ligament injury last season and was subsequently loaned to Hajduk Split by Tottenham, has been a topic of discussion. His contract with Tottenham expires this summer, and Perisic has shown interest in returning to Inter. However, according to Torino Sport, the likelihood of his return remains slim. Noted journalist Biasin emphasized that there has been no indication from Inter Milan of a desire to re-sign him. Additionally, when Biasin posed the question, "Would you like to see Perisic return?" the majority of Inter fans responded negatively.

Last September, Perisic underwent surgery for his cruciate ligament injury and spent the subsequent months in recovery, attempting to regain his form in time for the Euros. Unfortunately, his performance in the tournament did not suggest a full return to form. In the Euros, he played 139 minutes (excluding stoppage time), with a duel success rate of just 17%. Out of 63 passes, 19 were misplaced (a failure rate exceeding 30%), and he lost possession 22 times out of 76 touches. Besides his frequent errors, his stamina and ability to cover ground have significantly declined, drawing some criticism from his home country’s fans. While some suggest a return could be possible if Perisic accepts a significant pay cut, there have been no reliable sources indicating his willingness to do so. Guarro noted that Inter will not consider re-signing Cuadrado either, due to off-field issues last season.

Alternatives from Italian Media

La Gazzetta dello Sport has proposed two potential candidates: Marcos Alonso and Layvin Kurzawa. Alonso, who made a comeback from injury at Barcelona last season, displayed commendable form despite limited playing time. Although he has decided to leave Barcelona upon his contract's expiry, he has received multiple offers, including from Saudi clubs. The salary requirement for Alonso is not particularly high, around €3 million net per year. The pink newspaper pointed out that as soon as Buchanan’s injury was confirmed, Alonso was the first name that came to Marotta’s mind as a replacement. However, according to AS, Alonso is in advanced talks with a La Liga club, presenting a challenge for Inter. The primary obstacle lies in the contract duration. Buchanan might return in six months, making Inter more inclined to offer a one-year deal. If other clubs propose a two-year or longer contract, Alonso might prefer those offers over Inter.

Kurzawa’s potential signing is complicated by his salary and fitness concerns. Over the past three seasons, Kurzawa has played a total of 409 minutes in the top five European leagues, while earning an annual net salary in the millions of euros. According to L'Equipe, this translates to "earning seven figures per minute played." Given his recurring injuries and high salary demands, Inter would approach a potential signing with extreme caution.

Internal Options

There are two other potential solutions. One is retaining the club’s young talent, Zanotti, and developing him as a "second Dimarco." Last season, Zanotti made 34 league appearances for Swiss club St. Gallen, scoring three goals and providing five assists. He averaged 3.1 tackles, 5.4 ball recoveries, and 6.7 successful duels per game, with a dribbling success rate of 54%. However, he did accumulate a significant number of yellow cards (10) and two red cards. Despite the calls from some fans to bring Zanotti back, his performance at the Toulon Tournament, where Italy's U21 team finished third, has somewhat dampened those calls. Zanotti was unable to secure a starting spot over Juventus U23’s Turicchia, which has led experts to argue that returning to Inter now could result in limited playing time, hindering his development. Selling him with a buy-back clause might be more beneficial.

Tactical Adjustments

Another alternative is not signing a wingback at all but instead bringing in a left-sided center-back, allowing Augusto to move to the wingback position to cover for Buchanan. In the latter part of last season, Augusto transitioned to center-back, with Buchanan serving as his backup. Acquiring a new left center-back would enable Augusto to return to the wingback role. Sky Italia’s correspondent suggests that this solution might align more with Inzaghi's preferences, as he has been keen on adding a "fast center-back" to the squad.

Evaluating the Options

Inter Milan faces a crucial decision in addressing Buchanan's injury. Signing an experienced free agent or opting for a tactical adjustment by recruiting a center-back are both viable options. The club will need to conduct a comprehensive evaluation to determine the best course of action.