Inter have taken initial steps toward securing the signature of coveted Italian youngster Sandro Tonali, according to transfer market expert Gianluca Di Marzio and Sky Sport Italia.
The 20-year-old playmaker from Brescia has only featured this season in Serie A, but already has the likes of Inter, AC Milan, Juventus, Manchester City, and Barcelona enquiring about his future.
Inter director Beppe Marotta has identified Tonali as the main transfer target this summer as the Nerazzurri consider the young midfielder essential to their future plans.
Brescia president Massimo Cellino has already expressed a willingness to allow Tonali to move to the black and blue side of Milan next season, as the relationship with Marotta appears to be a healthy one, promoting the chances of a deal.
Tonali is one of two young prospects Inter are looking at this transfer window, with Fiorentina winger Federico Chiesa the other man in line for a big move.
With Juve also monitoring that situation, it looks like the two Serie A giants will battle it out for the youngsters’ signatures.
Despite all parties being keen on a deal, it will still be extremely difficult for Inter to close out negotiations efficiently and effectively.
Juventus are hardly the sort of club to back down without a fight when it comes to signing a potential prospect, and it is also important to not count out Barcelona in the background, who have reportedly also reached out.
With negotiations expected to be long and hard, Tonali’s initial ‘yes’ to Inter, like Nicolò Barella before him, may be the deciding factor in this transfer.