Inter keeping tabs on Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi | OneFootball

Inter are actively planning a defensive restructuring, with the club determined to anticipate a major signing in January due to the advanced age and expiring contracts of key veterans.

The focus is on finding a long-term central defender, and according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the primary target is English international Marc Guéhi.

The most coveted name on the Nerazzurri’s list is Marc Guéhi, the 25-year-old Crystal Palace central defender. Guéhi’s contract expires next June, making him a prime target for a free transfer.

Inter’s strategy is to secure the defender without entering a costly bidding war, but they face intense competition. The English player is also reportedly desired by European giants such as Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool, who came close to signing him last summer.

To beat the fierce competition, Inter is considering bringing his arrival forward to the January transfer window. This move would require a fee but would pre-empt a summer auction that the Nerazzurri are unwilling to participate in. A potential wider deal involving Inter’s defender Yann Bisseck is currently only a suggestion.

Inter’s sporting management, led by Piero Ausilio and Beppe Marotta, are exploring several other high-profile options, particularly focusing on players who could also become free agents or are available at a reasonable price. Among these is Dayot Upamecano of Bayern Munich.

The 27-year-old French international, a vice-World Champion, is another name being monitored in the free agent market. Upamecano’s contract with the German champions is also set to expire, and while Bayern has offered a renewal, there is currently distance and “coldness” in negotiations. This friction is seen as an opening for Inter to try and insert themselves into the deal.

Also on the list are options within Serie A, including Mario Gila of Lazio and Oumar Solet of Udinese, both of whom have contracts running until 2027. Tarik Muharemovic of Sassuolo, formerly of Juventus’s ranks, is another domestic option being tracked.

Further afield, the club is monitoring the Belgian market, though Club Brugge’s Ecuadorian defender Joel Ordonez recently renewed his contract, setting his price tag at around €30 million and making him a more challenging target.

The aggressive search is necessitated by the contract situations and age of current defenders; Stefan de Vrij and Francesco Acerbi (33 and 37 respectively) both have contracts expiring in June 2026, and Matteo Darmian (turning 36 in December) will be free to sign elsewhere in January.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN