Inter have decided Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun is their first transfer target to strengthen Simone Inzaghi’s attacking options, moving away from the idea of bringing in Alvaro Morata from Atletico Madrid.
The Nerazzurri had initially been working on a deal to bring Romelu Lukaku back to the San Siro on a permanent basis, but relations broke down spectacularly in mid-July.
Inter then went ahead and were previously linked with a move to sign former Juventus striker Morata from Atletico. The Spaniard was believed to have been Inzaghi’s first choice after Lukaku.
However, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the amount of money needed to take Morata away from Atletico is considered to be too much for a player of his age. It is said that it would take somewhere around €21m to secure Morata’s services, plus around €9m per season in wages and bonuses.
Inter also want to bring in a player who has a strong desire to play for them, as was the case with Davide Frattesi and Marcus Thuram. Morata reportedly did not have the same passion.
Instead, Balogun is now the first choice. However, the price set by Arsenal may be a bit problematic at the moment.
The Gunners would like around €40 million for Balogu, who scored 21 goals in 37 appearances in Ligue 1 last season.
Gazzetta dello Sport highlight the fact that Inter would not be willing to pay that price, but there is belief that the fee could be reduced before the end of the summer.
If they fail to land Balogun, Udinese’s Beto has also been mentioned as a possible alternative.