Inter Milan's Renewal Brings More Good News, Close to Signing US Captain, Adjusts Transfer Plans After Wingback's Injury

While Inter Milan fans are thrilled about the performances of players like Yann Sommer, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Marcus Thuram, and Lautaro Martinez in the European Championship and Copa America, there have also been significant developments on the transfer market for the Nerazzurri. These updates come with both positive and negative news.

There are two pieces of good news. First, multiple Dutch and Italian media outlets report significant progress in the renewal negotiations for Denzel Dumfries. The Dutch international is likely to renew his contract until 2027, with a base salary of 4 million euros plus bonuses. La Gazzetta dello Sport even highlighted the management's achievements, noting that if players like Nicolò Barella, Lautaro Martinez, Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco, and Dumfries all renew, it would be a major success for the club's management—especially considering the major shareholder change this summer.

However, this raises an issue: if Inter does not sell any key players before July 1st, combined with the increased costs from these renewals, the club could face a loss of around 40 to 50 million euros for the 2023-24 season. Historically, when Inter faced financial losses, the major shareholders had to inject capital during the autumn shareholders' meeting. Whether it was Massimo Moratti, Steven Zhang, or Erick Thohir, they always found a way to balance the books, either through direct capital injections or debt-to-equity swaps. The question now is how Oaktree Capital will handle this situation, having touted ambitious plans for months. If Dumfries can indeed renew with a net salary of 4 million euros, it would be a rare achievement for Inter in recent years.

In previous negotiations with players like Ivan Perisic, Marcelo Brozovic, and Lautaro Martinez, Inter often struggled to reduce the asking prices. Either the club had to concede, or the player left, as was the case with Perisic. However, Dumfries’ case is different. Initially, he demanded a renewal salary of 5.5 million euros plus bonuses—a more than twofold increase from his current compensation. If the final deal closes at 4 million plus bonuses, it would indeed be good news.

Additionally, Fabrizio Romano and Gianluca Di Marzio confirm that Inter is very close to signing US international Tanner Tessmann. However, the plan is to loan him back to Venezia for a year, with the young midfielder joining Inter in 2025. Tessmann, born on September 24, 2001, stands approximately 1.9 meters tall (Italian sources list him at 1.88 meters, while US Olympic team data indicates 1.92 meters), and plays as a defensive midfielder. Last season, he played 37 matches in Serie B (35 starts), scoring six goals and providing three assists. He was named to the official Team of the Week five times. Tessmann has made two appearances for the US national team and is expected to captain the US Olympic team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Like many American players, Tessmann’s strength lies in his physical attributes. He covers a large area on the field, averaging four successful tackles per game (3.1 on the ground, 0.9 in the air), and recovering possession 6.7 times per game, ranking among the top in Serie B. He is a versatile player, with a balanced record of goals scored with both feet (three left-footed and three right-footed last season) and from both inside and outside the box. However, like many American players, his passing accuracy and ball control need improvement. This signing reportedly comes directly from the major shareholders, aiming to expand the market reach.

The bad news is that Canadian star Tajon Buchanan suffered a severe tibial fracture during a training session at the Copa America, expected to sideline him for four to five months. This means Inter must revisit the transfer market for a wingback. Just yesterday, Inter’s sporting director Piero Ausilio mentioned, “Is our transfer window closed? For the most part, yes, we have a very competitive team. Marotta said there might still be surprises, both in and out? I believe he meant keeping an eye on potential opportunities and variables in the market; you can never predict what might happen.” True to his words, a major change has already occurred.

Currently, transfer market experts have not identified potential wingback targets for Inter. One reason is that Inter had previously lined up several wingback options, such as Ismaïl N'Diaye, who is among the top five in dribbling and speed at the European Championship. These players are priced in the tens of millions, and if Inter could not renew Dumfries, they might have intervened. However, if they keep the Dutchman, spending such an amount on a backup for Dumfries or Dimarco is unlikely. The players themselves would also be reluctant. Now, Inter must consider signing a rotational wingback to replace Buchanan, likely resulting in new names and rumors soon.

Since the summer, Inter's headquarters on Via della Libertà have been bustling, with agents offering players not in the dozens but in tons. Given the forced market entry due to injury, expect significant progress soon. Italian media advise Inter not to delay, as the summer training camp starts in ten days. If Inter signs a new rotational wingback, the coaching staff will not invest substantial resources or playing time into a backup. Therefore, missing the summer camp could mean, like Buchanan last season, the player might not be effective for half a year.