Is Suning holding up potential transfers for Inter?

Rumors are rumors, but sometimes there are interesting things you can find within those rumors.

Keep up on Nerazzurri transfer news and rumors here.

For example, in looking over some Italian sports papers, an interesting headline grabbed my attention: Inter, the market remains suspended between Pastore and Ramires.

So, I started looking and digging a little deeper into the story, which led me down a somewhat interesting rabbit hole.

La Gazzetta dello Sport suggested that Inter Milan owners Suning have halted discussions for both Paris-St. Germain attacking midfielder Javier Pastore and Ramires, a midfielder playing for Suning’s Chinese club Jiangsu Suning.

The reason: Well that is a little unclear.

With Pastore, Inter ownership is only interested in making a deal if there is a swap involved. The issue there is only one player – Joao Mario – would potentially be part of that deal. Whether Mario would be unloaded in the January transfer window is another story. There have been reports linking Mario with a move away from Inter during the winter window, but nothing concrete, and those reports involve sending the Portuguese to Arsenal.

Mario has struggled to find a place in Luciano Spalletti’s lineup as he has made just three starts for the Nerazzurri thus far.

Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images

As for Ramires, it is a little bit different. Because he plays for Jiangsu Suning, there could be a loan, but Suning is apparently reluctant to make anything concrete.

“But property, for now, has not yet decided whether to open the loan or choose to keep it good for Jiangsu's draft-shield,” Gazzetta’s report said.

British newspapers have spotted Ramires at Chelsea working on his fitness, but only as a way to get fit before joining Inter Milan.

Because Inter is set with 22 players – as Zinho Vanheusden is out until at least March – Suning is reluctant to make any big purchases. That means ownership can maintain self-financing and not use cash to make any January purchases.

Both Pastore and Ramires could be beneficial in Spalletti’s lineup as the Nerazzurri make a push toward the Scudetto, but ownership may be content in leaving the lineup as is, at least for this season. But, if Suning isn’t willing to part with some money, it will limit the roster moves Inter management can make.