Report: Inter Shows Interest in Luis Muriel

La Gazzetta dello Sport revealed today that Inter is pondering a move for Atalanta and Colombia national team striker Luis Muriel this summer. The 29-year-old would cost €25-€30 million but fill an immediate need at the San Siro. Inter’s attacking depth is rather shallow and Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez are only supported by an injury-prone Alexis Sanchez and Andrea Pinamonti. Muriel would give Antonio Conte another proven attacker at his disposal and the ability to throw out a different look than just Lukaku/Lautaro week in and week out.

Muriel has been incredibly effective at Atalanta, notching 20 goals and 9 assists in 37 appearances in all competitions this season. He averages a goal involvement every 55 minutes and has started a mere 17 times. Muriel is the dream super-sub and is already suited to Conte’s style of play thanks to playing in a similar formation at La Dea. His speed is deadly on the counter and he’s a skillful dribbler (Muriel averages 2.39 dribbles a game). In short, Conte couldn’t ask for a better back-up striker. Lack of quality depth is a major reason Inter made a premature Champions League exit and this signing would go a long way towards taking Inter to the next level.

But there is, of course, a catch. Inter’s ownership situation has still not been rectified and reports have dried up recently. While that could mean the deals are slowly progressing, it could also mean quite the opposite. The previously mentioned “end of March” deadline for the situation is nearing and it appears the club is still short on the needed finance. If the Nerazzurri can sort out its predicament soon, I’ll feel much more confident that any of these rumors might actually come into fruition (well, as confident as you can be in silly season). But for now, take it all with an even larger grain of salt than usual.