2024 Serie A champions Inter Milan have joined AC Milan and Napoli in the race to sign 29-year-old left-back Mario Hermoso, who has become a free agent at the end of his five-year stint at Atletico Madrid.
The Spanish star has been tracked by a host of clubs since the news that his contract at Wanda Metropolitano was about to come to an end, and the three Italian giants are at the front of the queue.
I Rossoneri have been reported to have made contact with the player’s representatives, while Napoli are pondering a move as I Nerazzurri also consider their options.
A couple of Premier League teams are also rumoured to be tracking Hermoso, with Aston Villa and West Ham United both looking to strengthen for the coming season.
But Inter is the most recently successful team to join the pursuit.
The SBOTOP Serie A 2024 betting odds back I Nerazzurri to retain their Scudetto, and they will be one of a small group of clubs in the frame to depose Real Madrid as European Champions. And that is an attractive proposition for a big name player like Hermoso.
The Milan club has made good use of the free transfer market in recent years, pulling in the likes of Hakan Calhanoglu, Andre Onana, and Marcus Thuram all on free transfers. And this summer I Nerazzurri have already recruited Poland ace Piotr Zielinski.
If they miss out on Hermoso, Inter could opt for Swiss star Ricardo Rodriguez, who is also available on a free transfer, having been released by Torino.
But they are apparently out of the hunt for Hellas Verona defender Juan Cabal, after the Italian press reported that Juventus are about to wrap up a €12 million deal for the Colombian. Inter had a verbal agreement with the player, but it seems Cabal is Turin-bound.
Is Osimhen finally off?
With a spectacular set of Serie A fixtures in the opening weeks, 2023 Scudetto winners Napoli look set to lose their biggest star with the departure of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen inching ever closer.
According to reports in Italy, he has been training separately from team-mates for two days amidst links to Paris Saint-Germain, who are looking to strengthen following the departure of Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid.
Osimhen had a mighty row with Napoli after the club’s social media department put out a video mocking the striker last season, and it looked like he may have been on his way in January.
And he’s a player wanted by plenty of Europe’s top clubs, having impressed mightily in Naples, winning the Capocannoniere in 2023 as he fired I Partenopei to the league title.
He is currently the highest-scoring African player in Serie A history, with 65 goals in 108 appearances.
Osimhen also has 21 goals from 35 games for the Super Eagles, and, at 25 years of age, he is one hot property.
He has a release clause of €130 million, and English big spenders Chelsea are also in the hunt for the goal machine. Rumours are they are willing to offer Belgian hitman Romelu Lukaku as a sweetener in a proposed swap deal.
Chelsea are keen to pursue the deal, and they could enter a tug of war with the French champions. Osimhen has issued a ‘come and get me’ message, telling news outlet CBS Sports that he has made up his mind.
In other Serie A 2024 news, Atalanta have signed another former Everton player following the success of striker Ademola Lookman, with the arrival of Toffees’ defender Ben Godfrey, who was excited to join La Dea because of the playing style under long-term manager Gian Piero Gasperini.
Atalanta have been one of the most admired teams in Europe over the past decade, with their fast-flowing and free scoring play; Godfrey, a ball-playing and attack-minded defender, could be a good fit.
He made his name at Norwich City as a raiding wing-back, but he can also play as a central defender, making 82 appearances for Everton as well as winning two full England caps.
The 26-year-old has now joined the Serie A club on a five-year deal at a cost of around €12 million. A serious injury to Giorgio Scalvini has left La Dea’s defence short in numbers, and Godfrey could make a quick impact.
Atalanta won the Europa League in superb style last term, as former Everton and Fulham star Lookman scored a stunning hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen. If Godfrey can impress half as much, he will do alright with Atalanta fans.
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