Inter target Marco Palestra as long-term Denzel Dumfries replacement | OneFootball

As reported by L’Interista, via SempreInter, the Nerazzurri have identified Atalanta full-back Marco Palestra as a long-term successor to Denzel Dumfries, should the Dutchman leave in the summer.

The 29-year-old, about to complete his fifth season at Inter, has a €25m release clause in €5.13m-per-year contract, which will become active in July. Having been subject to interest from outside Italy for several years now, the price tag makes it likely that Dumfries may be persuaded to go for a hefty bump in his wages.

Palestra, meanwhile, has had a revelatory season on loan at Cagliari this time around. Having made 31 appearances in the league this season, his efforts have been crucial in helping the team’s attempts at staving off relegation, with the Rossoblù currently 16th in the table, six points off the drop zone.

The 21-year-old’s performances also earned him a call-up with Italy, and he was part of the Azzurri squad that failed to secure World Cup qualification last month.

As stated by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Atalanta are not interested in any offers for Palestra and intend to keep him once he returns from Sardinia, but financial realities of the Italian top flight mean they may not able to refuse many offers for him in the summer, especially with Premier League clubs also closely monitoring Palestra’s situation.

It is believed that an offer in the region of €40 million could persuade La Dea to acquiesce to a deal. It is to be noted that, apart from graduating from Atalanta’s youth academy, Palestra also spent time in Inter’s youth ranks.

Anshuman Joshi | GIFN