Andy Diouf has emerged as an unlikely catalyst in Inter Milan’s summer rebuild, with the midfielder’s pre-season form at right wing-back paving the way for the Italian club to pursue Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Cristian Romero.
The Frenchman has found the net four times across two friendly appearances, a scoring run that has prompted manager Cristian Chivu to reconsider his tactical options. With Diouf providing cover on the right flank, Inter can now redirect funds originally earmarked for a wing-back towards reinforcing their defence.
Defensive overhaul
Inter have already begun reshaping their squad following the departure of veteran defenders Francesco Acerbi and Stefan De Vrij, whose contracts expired at the end of last season. The club has brought in Aleksandar Stankovic and Ivan Provedel to bolster their ranks, yet further reinforcements remain necessary to fill the void left by the experienced pair.
The Nerazzurri had initially targeted Marco Palestra from Atalanta to replace Denzel Dumfries, who activated his release clause to join Real Madrid. However, Chelsea outbid Inter with a €60m offer for the Italy international, forcing the Milan club to explore alternative solutions in the transfer market.
North London negotiations
Inter subsequently approached Tottenham regarding England wing-back Djed Spence, but cooled their interest after learning of the Premier League side’s valuation. Talks have since pivoted towards Romero, with Spurs reportedly demanding approximately €50m for the Argentina international.
The former Genoa and Atalanta centre-back appears surplus to requirements under Roberto De Zerbi, who is unlikely to include Romero in his plans for the 2026-27 campaign. This situation has presented Inter with an opportunity to secure an established defender without competing for a starting role elsewhere.
Tactical reshuffle
Should the deal materialise, Romero would likely slot into the central position of a back three, flanked by Manuel Akanji and Alessandro Bastoni. Benjamin Pavard, Yann Bisseck and Carlos Augusto provide additional depth in defensive roles, though the addition of a high-profile centre-back would strengthen Chivu’s hand considerably.
Diouf’s goals came during Inter’s training camp in Germany, where the team faced local side SV Aasen and second-tier club Karlsruher SC. His attacking output from defence has solved a selection headache for Chivu while simultaneously unlocking the budget for a major signing. Inter’s earlier agreement to sign Israeli winger Anan Khalaili from Union Saint-Gilloise collapsed following medical concerns, highlighting the difficulties the club has encountered in the market this summer.