Inter ‘to line up’ Palestra if Liverpool push for Dumfries amid clause doubt | OneFootball

Inter are monitoring Atalanta winger Marco Palestra as a potential successor to Denzel Dumfries, whose future could hinge on his World Cup and a €25 million clause that is active for one month in July. Liverpool have been linked with triggering the clause.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Dumfries has hit peak form at a vital time, influencing the Scudetto run-in and the Coppa Italia final win over Lazio.

The Dutchman missed action from mid-November to mid-February with a left ankle injury sustained against Lazio at San Siro, but has since re-established himself as a fixture under Cristian Chivu.

His deal runs to 2028 and Inter value him highly, yet an annual release clause creates uncertainty each summer. No club acted on it last year despite sustained Barcelona talk.

Dumfries will head to the World Cup with the Netherlands, who face Japan, Sweden and Tunisia and are favoured to progress. While he is in the United States, transfer noise around him is expected to persist.

Should a sale materialise, Inter have identified Palestra, on loan at Cagliari from Atalanta, as their leading right-flank option. Luis Henrique is linked with an exit, while Matteo Darmian’s contract expires in June after nine trophies in six years, and Palestra’s dynamism and versatility make him the natural candidate to eventually take the role.

Source: Football Italia