Inter Milan is proving to be something of a construction site this summer, with chief executive Beppe Marotta one of just a handful of key figures who will definitely be at the club next season.
But even Marotta, Inter’s experienced chief executive, finds himself in a difficult situation. He is trying to build a competitive team against backdrop of the club’s economic problems.
It is a puzzle that looks more and more like a Rubik’s Cube every day because Inter need to sell in order to buy. Their financial situation is stable but the wage budget is cripplingly high.
Inter Milan are expected to make wholesale changes to Simone Inzaghi’s squad this summer
It means Inter have been unsuccessful in trying to move on some of their unwanted stars – who are on high wages – so far. That has limited the plan to strengthening the team to free transfers.
Veteran defender Andrea Ranocchia has left on a free while Inter have completed the signing of Andre Onana, the Ajax goalkeeper who was out of contract in Amsterdam.
Among the players Inter are trying to move on this summer are Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal. Both have huge salaries and letting them both go would save the club around €12million (£10m).
President Steven Zhang (right) and CEO Beppe Marotta (left) are aiming to balance the books
The biggest problem is that Marotta will subsequently have the task of finding their replacements, which will inevitably lead to the club spending big.
According to Tuttosport, Flamengo and Galatasaray would be interested in the two Chilean players, but at the moment Vidal and Sanchez are still under contract with Inter, who need to cut players not useful for manager Simone Inzaghi’s project.
Below, Sportsmail looks at the problems facing Inter and their rebuild this summer, including who might leave the San Siro.
Risk of dismantling the team
After Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi both left last summer, Inter’s biggest risk is to dismantle the team by selling Inzaghi’s key players in an attempt to build a title-winning side for next season.
After letting Ivan Perisic leave for Tottenham, Inter need an experienced player who can play as a left winger and full-back, while the departure of Denzel Dumfries would also create a problem on the right side of defence.
The temptation to sign Paulo Dybala on a free when he has left Juventus is exciting but there’s also a chance he could cause Inzaghi a tactical nightmare.
The Argentine cannot solve problems at full back and…