Following the debacle that has been Romelu Lukaku’s soap opera flirtations with Juventus, Inter find themselves searching for a new permanent partner for Lautaro Martinez.
Marcus Thuram has signed from Borussia Monchengladbach on a free transfer but will take some time to adapt due to being played out wide for the majority of his time in Germany and given the Nerazzuri’s ambitions to compete in multiple competitions, they need depth in each position.
The departures of Edin Dzeko and the aforementioned Lukaku, leave Inter wanting a front line striker so let us have a look at all of the players linked closely with filling that position and analyse the pros and cons.
Folarin Balogun
Arsenal whizzkid Folarin Balogun appears to perhaps be the most expensive name linked closely with filling the vacancy as the Gunners appear willing only to sanction a permanent move of upwards of €30million.
The United States man is coming off the back of his breakout season in which he netted 22 goals for Ligue 1 side Reims and at the age of just 22, perhaps boasts the highest potential of all linked options.
Balogun is perhaps more suited to playing the role of Lautaro Martinez as he has spent chunks of his rather short career to date as a second striker and he is a player who uses his pace to maximum effect. Inter may perhaps be looking for a more imposing striker since he would be replacing the options of Dzeko and Lukaku.
The price tag may be a stumbling block on this one but it certainly appears that Balogun will be allowed to leave Arsenal this summer and possesses bags of potential which could tempt Steven Zhang into opening the tight purse strings.
Alvaro Morata
Alvaro Morata is allegedly said to be the manager’s choice for the role.
The vastly experienced Spaniard is also no stranger to Italian shores as he has spent two separate spells with Inter’s bitter rivals Juventus, the latter of the two being as recent as a two year loan between 2020 and 2022.
A seemingly cheaper €20million asking price means he’d be cheaper than Balogun but at 30 years old, Inter would perhaps be getting a player who is perhaps heading past his peak in the none to distant future.
Despite playing for the likes of Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Real Madrid and even being a regular for his national side, Morata has never been a real marksmen with his best tally in a league season being just 15 and he’s only actually scored double figures in less than half of his seasons as a senior pro.
Inzaghi may well be keen on polishing Morata but let us remember he’s tried that trick with Joaquin Correa and look at how that turned out..
Gianluca Scamacca
Gianluca Scamacca is perhaps the most interesting option on this list.
A move to West Ham last summer has turned out to be an absolute disaster, with the Italian only managing three league goals in 16 appearances.
He faired slightly better in their run to winning the Conference League as he netted five in nine games across the competition but he wasn’t actually fit enough to play any part in the final or even the latter stages of the season for The Hammers.
Scamacca himself has been a little outspoken of his time in England which has given the impression he’d like to return to Italy, a place in which he is very highly rated.
The 24 year old hit 16 league goals for Sassuolo in 2021/2022 and is said to be available on a loan with obligation of somewhere between €25-30million.
Scamacca is the perfect physical profile to replace Dzeko it is simply whether they can hold off interest from Roma and hope he isn’t too scarred from his experience of playing back up to Michail Antonio for a season.
Beto
Beto is the loosest link on this least but he is the only one currently still playing in Italy which makes him a viable option.
The former KFC worker has enjoyed an excellent two years in Udine with him netting double figures in both his campaigns so far despite playing for arguably the league’s most middling side.
Beto’s profile is the one on the list the perhaps fits best to compliment Lautaro Martinez as he can hold up the ball, press and has the pace to worry each centre back partnership he encounters.
However, Beto will not come cheap as his price tag is said to be around €30million and since Inter are already seemingly closing in on buying his team mate Lazar Samardzic, Andrea Sottil’s side may not want to lose another of their key men.
Who do you think Inter should be aiming for? Let us know in our mentions on Twitter or in the comments section!
Jake Smalley | GIFN
