It’s that time of year again - silly season. Rumors have already begun to swirl over what moves Inter will make in the transfer market this summer, with new names linked to and from the San Siro almost daily. But before we get busy caught up in the constant stream of transfer rumors, we took a look at Inter’s needs on the pitch and what players would be perfect fits in Milano. Some of these names are more realistic than others but all have some basis in reality (sorry guys, Mbappe won’t be in black and blue stripes next season after all).

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The Obvious Picks

Rodrigo De Paul

Links between the Argentine midfielder and Inter cooled off after Atletico Madrid swooped him away from Udinese last summer but he’s yet to make a real mark in the Spanish capital. De Paul has made 36 La Liga appearances for Atletico but appeared in just 63% of the total available minutes with 24 starts. His production has also fallen off. Whereas he consistently put up 15 goals and assists combined in Italy, the 27-year-old mustered just three goals and two assists in his La Liga debut season. Despite De Paul’s struggles, there’s no doubt that he’d be an immediate fit at Inter. The Nerazzurri desperately need a fourth quality midfielder and he’s used to Serie A, not to mention also an incredibly talented footballer. The main sticking point is obviously money. Atletico would want to at least come close to breaking even on their €35 million investment if they were even open to cutting ties after just one season.

Odds of happening - 15%

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Gleison Bremer

Whereas De Paul moving to the San Siro is more of a pipe dream, the Italian media would have you believe that Bremer’s arrival is only a matter of time, and let’s hope they have it right. The 25-year-old Brazilian and Serie A defender of the year has been the anchor of Torino’s concrete backline under Ivan Juric. Only Napoli, Milan, Juventus, and Inter have a better record than Torino’s Blank goals conceded this season and Bremer has been a crucial part of that. Just take a look at his defensive stats on fbref if you need further convincing.

Furthermore, Bremer fills an immediate weakness for Inter. Stefan de Vrij’s form this season has never impressed and if Inter needs to make a sale he could easily be the one to go. Bremer isn’t quite as secure in possession as the Dutchman but few players in Europe are as good defensively as him, so he’d be a clear upgrade to the backline. The only issue comes down to the fee Torino would accept for their star center back; Inter can’t afford to break the bank any time soon and Urbano Cairo isn’t known for his gentle negotiating practices (Belotti for €100 million anyone?).

Odds of happening: 70%

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Gianluca Scamacca

The latest young Italian striker making the rounds is high on Inter’s (and just about every big Serie A club) priority list. This time it’s Gianluca Scamacca (for what it’s worth Scam is right there in his name...) getting the hype. The 23-year-old has 16 goals in 36 appearances this season, a 100% increase on the 8 he scored for Genoa in his debut Serie A season. He’s not much use in build-up play, nor all that fast, but there’s one thing he has that few of Inter’s current strikers possess: an eye for goal. Give him a chance and there are good odds it’ll end up in the back of the net. At 1.96 meters (6’5 feet), Scamacca is a beast in the air and it’s not hard to imagine him heading one Calhanoglu cross after another home.

There are a number of potential drawbacks with Scamacca. For one, just how much of a finished product is he, or will it take a lot of polishing to turn him into a top striker? The other worry is a bit more straightforward but still potentially a tricky situation. Napoli (should Osimen be sold), Milan, Roma, and maybe even Juve if Morata leaves, all have an interest in Scamacca and that could lead to a bidding war. Inter might be able to lower the price with players such as Pinamonti or Pirola but Scamacca isn’t worth the €40+ million Sassuolo will ask for.

Odds of happening: 60%

Paulo Dybala

There’s no way to leave the Argentine 10 off even if some journalists would say the deal taking him to Milano is already done. He’s been a constant thorn in Inter’s side ever since he joined that team from Turin in 2015. The 28-year-old has 115 goals and 48 assists in 293 appearances for Juventus, all too many of which came against Inter. Now a free agent, Dybala would be a huge pick up for the Nerazzurri, albeit not without risks. The last time he made 30+ appearances in Serie A was 19/20 and he’s struggled with injury concerns since. There’s no denying his quality, however, and he’d be an immediate upgrade on Joaquin Correa and Alexis Sánchez. Few players can create something out of nothing the way Dybala can, and it’s almost never that you can the chance to get a player of his quality without a transfer fee.

Odds of happening: 75%

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Could be Worth Taking a Closer Look At

Destiny Udogie

The first four names on this list aren’t new to anyone that follows Inter’s dealing and wheeling in the transfer market, but now it’s time to go a level deeper and create some rumors of our own. First up is Udinese’s 19-year-old Italian Destiny Udogie. After making six appearances in his Serie A debut season in 20/21 with Hellas Verona, he’s burst onto the scene at the Dacia Arena. Udogie has 35 appearances, 29 starts, 5 goals, and 3 assists. He’s found the most success as a left wingback in Udinese’s 3-5-2 but can also fill in at center-back. His versatility would make him an especially useful signing, but only if at least one of Perisic/Dimarco/Bastoni leave. Even if he’s not a first-team contributor next season, Udogie is still a very smart signing for the future before his value shoots through the ceiling.

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Gerard Deulofeu

Let’s stick with the Udinese theme just a bit longer. The departure of Rodrigo De Paul last summer would have sent the Zebrette into a spiral if not for the superb form of Gerard Deulofeu. The Spaniard stepped into a bigger role in his first full season at the club, scoring 13 goals and creating 5 assists in 34 games from a second-striker role. He might not be as flashy as Joaquin Correa or Alexis Sanchez, but the 28-year-old barely missed any time due to injury and would be a Mr. Reliable in an Inter attack that’s full of off-and-on players. This move would only be realistic if Dybala doesn’t arrive, but for attacking depth it’s hard to find anyone as dependable and battle-tested as Deulofeu.

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Last but not least comes Salernitana’s 22-year-old Brazilian midfielder Ederson. He played a key role in the Granata’s revival since his move from Fortaleza, starting 13 games, scoring twice, and tallying one assist. He’s not a finished product just yet but is brimming with quality and already looks at home in Serie A with just months of European football under his belt. Ederson would be a perfect back-up for Inter, though it might suit his development more to be a starter one more season before jumping to a big club. But no matter what, he’s going to be a midfield machine one day.

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Who do you want to see line up in Inter colors come August? Which transfer targets stand out from the rest? Let us know in the comments below.