Inter Milan

Mauro Icardi's agent and wife, Wanda Nara, has suggested that Ivan Perisic could be enduring "personal problems" at Inter Milan amid reports the Croat has agreed a deal with Arsenal.

After discussing ongoing negotiations around a new deal for Icardi at the San Siro, Nara was asked about the prospect of Perisic leaving the Nerazzurri, per Tiki Taka (h/t Calciomercato), and she hinted personal issues could be a reason the 29-year-old is pushing for a departure.

According to Italian newspaper Libero (h/t Calciomercato), Perisic has agreed terms with Arsenal that would see him join on loan initially before penning a contract worth €6.5 million (£5.6 million) per year to 2022 in the summer. 

However, Inter are not prepared to let him go on loan unless there is a guarantee of a permanent switch in a €40 million (£35 million) transfer, per Football Italia.

At the moment, Arsenal are only committing to a loan with an option to buy, meaning they wouldn't be obliged to sign him permanently in the summer.

Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta revealed at the weekend that Perisic handed in a transfer request, but the club are clearly not prepared to let one of their best attacking players leave on the cheap:

#Inter director Marotta to @SkySport: "Perisic has asked to leave but there is no offer for him. We will see in the coming days. We will listen to the request of Perisic, he has put in a transfer request; we must try to satisfy him but also respect the value of him" 🇭🇷 #transfers

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 27, 2019

The Croatia international has been at Inter since 2015, and he enjoyed his most productive season for the club in 2017-18, netting 11 goals and providing nine assists in Serie A.

This season, he has scored three and assisted two in 18 appearances in the Italian top flight.

Arsenal head coach Unai Emery revealed recently that the Gunners can only make loan signings in the January transfer window.

Perisic would be an exciting addition given such restraints, but Inter clearly want to make sure the Gunners will eventually pay a full fee for him.

Arsenal's immediate problems look to be in defence given their ongoing injury issues:

Laurent Koscielny is better than initially feared. Confirmed as
bruising and soft tissue swelling to his face and jaw - no fracture - assessed on a daily basis. However, Sokratis (ankle) is not expected to return to full training until the end of February. #AFC pic.twitter.com/K3yqpr6As2

— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) January 27, 2019

But Perisic could be a valuable addition in attack given his versatility and work ethic.

He prefers to play out on the left flank, but he is also comfortable in central positions. 

Perisic's creative instincts would likely mean he could fit well into the Arsenal side, but they will have to persuade Inter to let him go.   

Inter Milan's star defender Milan Skriniar has said he wants to sign a new contract at the San Siro amid recent speculation linking him with a move away from the club.

The centre-back only moved to Inter from Sampdoria in the summer of 2017 and has made rapid progress in his time at the club, establishing himself as one of the best defenders in the division.

As such, there has been talk about a new deal for Skriniar, and he said he is hoping the extension gets sorted quickly, per Tuttosport (h/t Joe Wright of Goal).

"You all know I want to stay at Inter," said the 23-year-old. "I have a great relationship with the club and the directors. We're talking, and we're close to an agreement."

As Chris Burton of Goal relayed, Skriniar commented earlier this month on "s--t" being written about a possible departure from the Milan outfit.

Rob Dawson of ESPN FC reported in October that then-Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was keen on bringing the defender to Old Trafford in the January window. However, Mourinho has since been sacked by United, and Skriniar appears content with life at his current club.

The fact the Slovakian is happy to stay at Inter will be a big boost for the team as they attempt to challenge the might of Juventus, who have won the last seven Serie A titles in a row.

Keeping the likes of Skriniar around will be crucial in Inter's route back to the top, as there aren't many young defenders in European football who can offer what he does.

First and foremost, he looks after the ball well:

Milan Skriniar: Only Marlon Santos (93.5%) has a better pass success rate than Skriniar (93.1%) in Serie A this season (10+ starts)

For more player stats -- https://t.co/wqlGv4I22i pic.twitter.com/cL8N3CRk8p

— WhoScored (@WhoScored) January 17, 2019

In addition, the Slovakian relishes the defensive duties he has. He is rarely outdone when it comes to physical battles, but he also has the intelligence to detach himself from duels when necessary and put himself in strong positions to win the ball.

That blend of attributes has made him undroppable for manager Luciano Spalletti, despite the fact Inter have other high-class defensive options in the form of Miranda and Stefan De Vrij.

He didn't miss a minute for Inter in the Italian top flight last season:

Milan Škriniar started and finished the entire game in each of his 50 appearances for Inter. He's only missed two games, in both of which he was an unused substitute.

He has played 4,560 of a possible 4,740 minutes since joining the club. pic.twitter.com/gFdH9xeyL7

— SCOUTED (@scoutedftbl) October 24, 2018

Skriniar also spoke about the club potentially adding Atletico Madrid's Diego Godin to bolster the club's defence:

"Godin would bring experience and a winning mentality," Skriniar said. "He is someone who has won trophies. He can give us a big helping hand and help us to become stronger."

With Mauro Icardi's agent and wife Wanda Nara telling Italian TV show Tiki Taka (h/t Nick Howson of Goal) recently that the striker will "100 per cent" sign a new contract at Inter, things appear to be looking up for the Nerazzurri.

Keeping their key men at both ends of the pitch is significant and will give them a spine to build around in the coming years. For a team whose historical identity has been based around a rock-solid defence, having Skriniar on board for the foreseeable future points to an outfit on an upward trajectory.  

Wanda Nara, the wife and agent of Inter Milan forward Mauro Icardi, has said the forward will sign a new contract at the club.

The striker's current terms are set to run out in 2021, and Icardi has been linked with a possible exit since the summer. Per AS (h/t Calciomercato), Nara said earlier this month the "two most important clubs in Spain" wanted to sign the player as well as a Premier League side and a Ligue 1 oufit.

Speaking about the striker's situation again to Tiki Taka (h/t Nick Howson of Goal), she offered a much more positive update for fans of the Nerazzurri:

"Neither Mauro nor I have ever asked for anything. The problem is that I’m always seen as the idiot. When the club decide it’s the right moment to call us, we’ll answer and sit down with them.

"There’s a real possibility of him staying at Inter for a long time. 

"An agreement soon? I’ve received positive signals, so I hope it can be an important week: my phone is on and for me he’ll renew 100 per cent, even if I haven’t talked to anyone yet."

Icardi has established himself as one of the best strikers in Italian football since making his switch to Inter from Sampdoria in 2013.

During his time at the club, he's grown as a player, developing his razor-sharp instincts inside the penalty area and netting goals at decisive times for the team. In 2017-18, he was crucial as the Milan outfit finished in fourth spot in Serie A, making their way back into the UEFA Champions League.

In Serie A, he netted 29 times, the biggest haul by an Inter player in the competition for a long time:

Mauro Icardi scored 29 goals in the 2017/18 Serie A season; the most by an Inter Milan player in a single campaign since Antonio Angelillo (33) in 1958/59.

Not good enough for the World Cup. 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/g2MxO5NtmY

— Squawka (@Squawka) May 21, 2018

Players who are so reliable in front of goal—he has nine in 17 Serie A appearances this season—are rare, so interest from the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona wouldn't be a big shock.

However, Icardi has clearly developed an affinity with Inter. The striker may only be 25, but he's been the captain of the team since the end of the 2014-15 season. The manner in which he's shouldered that responsibility has made him popular among supporters, not to mention his excellent big-game record.

Inter seem to have faith in their No. 9's loyalty too, with the club's chief executive Giuseppe Marotta saying recently there's little to worry about:

Inter executive director Marotta:”Icardi’s extension? I don’t think there will be problems. Both parties want to continue the relationship and this is a common denominator that bodes well for the future” during last night’s Domenica Sportiva

— David Amoyal (@DavidAmoyal) January 14, 2019

If Inter do wish to challenge for the biggest trophies again, then it's crucial they keep players like Icardi at the club. In addition, with so much said from all parties on the extension recently, bringing the curtain down on the saga would allow the player and club to move forward.

The signs do appear positive for the San Siro faithful, and their star striker will be aware he's part of a team that's steadily moving in the right direction. If they are able to secure the future of one of the game's best sharpshooters, it's imperative Inter build a team that's capable of bringing the most from him.

Inter Milan manager Luciano Spalletti said on Sunday that defender Milan Skriniar will stay at the San Siro because no teams have the financial power to sign the 23-year-old.

"Skriniar is staying here; he is out of everybody's price range," he said, per Goal. "Nobody can afford him."

The Slovakia international has emerged as one of the most exciting defenders in Europe since joining Inter from Sampdoria in 2017.

Opta noted how he did not miss a minute of Serie A action last season:

3420 - Milan Skriniar is the first outfield Inter player to play every single minute of a league campaign (3420) since Serie A went back to 20 teams (2004-05), overtaking Javier Zanetti (3375) in 2008-09. Essential. pic.twitter.com/9asyWwoxcU

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) May 21, 2018

Skriniar has become a rock at the back for Inter. He's strong, possesses good timing, is composed on the ball and can be relied upon to win back possession.

Scouted Football highlighted how Inter's defence has improved since his arrival:

Milan Škriniar (23) in all competitions since joining Internazionale:

• 51 appearances
• 40 goals conceded
• 22 clean sheets

Internazionale's last 51 games in all competitions before signing Škriniar:

• 72 goals conceded
• 8 clean sheets

Influential. pic.twitter.com/xqQ7Ldvvl8

— SCOUTED (@scoutedftbl) October 30, 2018

His performances have led to speculation over his future, although the defender has taken to social media to shut down the rumours.

According to Richard Fay at the Manchester Evening News, Skriniar posted an Instagram story with his response to reported interest from Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Barcelona. He wrote: "You write things that you don't even know. You are s--t. Now write an article on this."

Skriniar's contract with Inter Milan runs until June 2020. Karol Csonto, the defender's agent, told Tuttomercatoweb (h/t Joe Wright at Goal), there have been discussions over a renewal.

Spalletti has previously spoken about how much clubs may have to spend if they wanted to tempt Skriniar away from Inter, per Ben Gladwell at ESPN FC.

"If it's Barcelona, they will have to pay €100 million, and if I am them, I would pay a €20 million tip on top," he said. "And if I'm Real Madrid, the [€100 million] with a €40 million tip—that is how highly I rate Skriniar."

Spalletti's made it clear he has no interest in letting one of his key men go, but his words are unlikely to put off admirers if Skriniar maintains the level of performance he's shown during his time at the San Siro.

Inter Milan forward Mauro Icardi has said he is waiting on a "correct and concrete" contract offer from the club.

The striker's wife and agent Wanda Nara told AS (h/t Football Italia) recently there are a number of teams interested in the Argentina international and that any deal with Inter is "very far away" at this point.

Icardi took to Instagram on Thursday to address the speculation that has surfaced regarding his future at the San Siro, per Football Italia:

"I want to clarify to all the fans who read work written by pseudo-journalists in 'serious' newspapers, which write or give instructions to write without knowing or having a real idea of the facts, that my renewal will only take place when Inter make me a correct and concrete offer."

"Only after that can we talk about my renewal with truth, while putting to one side the lies that have been spread."

Nara said that there are two major clubs in Spain interested in Icardi, as well as possible suitors from the Premier League and Ligue 1. 

Per Football Italia, Icardi also dismissed speculation from Gazzetta dello Sport that Inter want someone other than his wife to be his representative. "It'll always be Wanda Icardi who takes care of my and our interests until the end of my career," he said on his Instagram account.

The striker posted the following on Twitter, mocking the suggestion from the Italian newspaper:

#MI9 pic.twitter.com/KMajynsTZt

— MauroIcardi (@MauroIcardi) January 10, 2019

While Icardi has regularly made it clear he has a strong affinity with Inter, supporters will be getting a little jittery when it comes to the striker's contract.

His current terms run until 2021, meaning there's no pressure on the Serie A side to cash in on their skipper yet. However, it does appear as though there are a number of high-class outfits interested in signing the sharpshooter, who has developed a reputation as one of the most gifted goalscorers in world football.

This season, he's also proved he's capable of replicating that productivity in the UEFA Champions League:

3 - Mauro #Icardi is the first @Inter player to score in each of his first three Champions League home games for the club. Historic.#UCL #InterPSV pic.twitter.com/8FC2hWKbML

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) December 11, 2018

He's scored nine goals in 16 appearances in Serie A this term. Had he been a little more clinical, the Inter skipper could be sitting on an even bigger haul of goals:

Mauro Icardi: Only Cristiano Ronaldo (10) has missed more clear-cut goalscoring opportunities than Icardi (9) in Serie A this season

For more player stats -- https://t.co/aVgDkIy4gi pic.twitter.com/7uZbI9EbYp

— WhoScored (@WhoScored) January 9, 2019

Inter have been active in the transfer market in recent years, spending big money on a number of high-profile players and improving the squad to a standard that saw them qualify for the Champions League this season.

With speculation simmering and the recent quotes from both Icardi and his agent adding more fuel to the fire, Inter will now surely seek to get their captain tied down for an extended term as a priority.

What will worry Inter is the supposed interest from some of European football's juggernauts. Despite his love for the Nerazzurri, if a club competing for the biggest prizes domestically and in Europe makes a play for him, there will be a temptation to move on.  

Mauro Icardi's agent has opened the door for the striker to exit Inter Milan, saying contract negotiations are not going well and there's interest from La Liga, the Premier League and Ligue 1.

Wanda Nara―his agent and wife―spoke to Madrid-based newspaper AS (h/t Football Italia) and painted a bleak picture for Nerazzurri fans:

"Right now, Icardi's renewal with Inter is very far away.

"We're far from reaching an agreement. The figures being talked about in Italy aren't true and we haven't received a satisfactory proposal from Inter yet.

"I won't deny that we can reach an agreement, but right now we're very far apart. It's not logical to renew Mauro's contract for the amount he currently earns.

"We believe Mauro is worth more than that. There are some very important clubs interested in signing him.

"For example, there are the two biggest clubs in Spain, with whom we have excellent relationships, plus an English team and a French one."

Icardi has previously professed his love for and desire to stay with Inter at every opportunity. The player ruled out an exit amid links to Real Madrid as recently as December, per Corriere dello Sport (h/t Goal's Joe Wright).

According to Football Italia, the two La Liga clubs Nara mentioned are likely Real and Barcelona. Paris Saint-Germain are likely the French side and either Manchester United or Chelsea could be the club from the Premier League.

The 25-year-old has been strongly linked with Chelsea and Real in particular. Both clubs have a dire need at the striker position and the financial resources to make a big splash in January.

Icardi is one of the best pure scorers in the sport and has already bagged four UEFA Champions League goals this season. He has easily crossed the 20-goal mark in three of the last four Serie A seasons and finished with 29 in the 2017-18 campaign.

As shared by Goal, he's something of a throwback as a classic No. 9, a poacher who only needs half a chance to make his mark:

The best no.9 in the world? 🤩

Enjoy Mauro Icardi - we'll never see anyone like him again 🙌 | ✍️ @ameeruszkaihttps://t.co/zJg51rute0 #FCIM

— GOAL News (@GoalNews) January 9, 2019

Local rivals AC Milan learned that the hard way in the most recent derby:

He's been with Inter since 2013 and has been the team's biggest star and most pivotal player the last few seasons. The Nerazzurri have struggled since their treble-winning campaign in 2009-10, as Juventus have dominated Serie A.

While Inter have struggled as a team, Icardi has shone, crossing the century mark for the club:

The Argentina international is too good to spend the prime of his career away from the biggest stage, and after Inter's latest Champions League exit, a move seems more likely than ever.

Icardi won't come cheap, however, which is where the contract comes into play. His deal will run out in 2021, so the club still has leverage in talks for the foreseeable future. Things change if they can't agree to an extension, however, opening the door for interested clubs in the summer.

His value on the open market will drop as we get closer to 2021, and Inter could opt to cash in if he doesn't sign a new deal.   

Brazilian striker Gabriel Barbosa—commonly known as Gabigol—is eager to prove himself at Inter Milan when he returns to the club this month amid speculation he could complete a move to the Premier League.

Gabigol failed to flourish at Inter following a reported €30 million (£27 million) move from Brazil in August 2016. After a short-term spell at Benfica, he was sent back on loan to boyhood outfit Santos in January 2018 and is ready to impress his parent club after rediscovering his scoring touch.

The 22-year-old scored 18 goals in 35 Brasileiro Serie A appearances for Santos this year and told Panorama.it (h/t Football Italia): "Before any decision I want to speak with [Inter manager Luciano] Spalletti. I'll be in Italy on January 7 for a meeting. I'd like a chance at Inter."

That haul saw the forward finish the Campeonato campaign as top scorer in Brazil, and the 27 goals he netted in all competitions is the most he's notched in a single season so far in his career.

Goal's Bruno Andrade reported Premier League outfits Fulham and West Ham United have each shown interest in the attacker, while Flamengo want to keep him in Brazil.

Gabigol has made 15 career appearances in Europe—10 for Inter and five for Benfica—but failed to earn a league start for either club.

Sportswriter Manuel Veth recently said his value is likely to have dropped since his 2016 move to Inter, even despite his boost in form back in his native Brazil:

Gabigol, in retrospect, was an inflated price too. You have to remember a South American is a big risk. The list of players that didn't make it is very long. Pulisic has played in Europe for three seasons in the Bundesliga and Champions League. That is an important factor.

— Manuel Veth (@ManuelVeth) January 2, 2019

Andrade wrote Inter will offer their forward out on loan, but it's understood they'd like any suitor to pay his €3.5 million (£3.1 million) salary—a little less than £60,000 per week—in full. However, the Guardian's Fabrizio Romano recently reported the Nerazzurri would rather sell the player if possible.

Gabigol could be at an early crossroads in his career as he prepares to return to Europe a renewed force. It's understandable the forward might seek redemption at the San Siro, though Goal showed before his return to Santos last winter why his form in Europe was far from encouraging:

Is Gabigol's career already at risk? The Brazilian wonderkid has been a disaster in Europe - by @Mark_Doyle11 https://t.co/AqGDfhYcpq pic.twitter.com/N34P3hULSM

— GOAL (@goal) November 25, 2017

The Brasileiro Serie A star is eager to return to Europe, it seems, despite the adoration he's received at Santos following his return earlier this year, via Squawka:

Sound on, listen to the roar. 😵

Gabigol celebrates his Classico winner vs Corinthians by referencing a famous @SantosFC goal from 2002 - mimicking Robinho’s eight ‘pedaladas’ before he was brought down for a penalty, which he scored.

Wow. 🚲 pic.twitter.com/LOQtBcdsy4

— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) October 14, 2018

The Nerazzurri already have a capable set of strikers in Argentinian duo Mauro Icardi, 25, and Lautaro Martinez, 21. Icardi leads the team with nine league goals this season, though Martinez has made an encouraging impact since his July transfer from Racing Club and has three goals in four Serie A starts.

West Ham have struggled to pose the same attacking threat when Marko Arnautovic has been injured this season, while Fulham have scored only 21 times in 21 games and are second from the bottom.

Gabigol is seemingly available to the club willing to take another risk on his potential, though it appears his heart is set on another attempt at carving out his place in the Inter squad.