Two weeks before the start of the championship, Inter finds itself at a crossroads. The question is: should they focus on young talents at significant costs or on experienced players, preferably on a free transfer? The Nerazzurri’s transfer market is proceeding in a zigzag, amid complex negotiations and choices that seem to swing between different philosophies.

So far, Stankovic, a promising youngster, and two high-level over-30s like Stones and Provedel have arrived. However, there are still important gaps to fill: a quality and solid midfielder, another central defender, and a replacement for Dumfries. These are not marginal reinforcements, but fundamental elements to complete the squad.

Time is running out and Ausilio and his collaborators are at work. At the moment, the strategy seems oriented towards low-cost opportunities rather than targeted investments based on predetermined criteria. Clarity is needed on the actual direction of the market, including the budget, also to allow Cristian Chivu to work on concrete matters and not on vague hypotheses.

The knot to untie concerns the very identity of the project. After years of management under Marotta, based on reliable and economical options, it seemed that Oaktree had dictated a different philosophy: a team built on interesting young players with room for growth, even if they need to be developed. A year ago, four signings under 25 arrived (Bonny, Diouf, Pio Esposito, Henrique) and a 29-year-old central defender like Akanji, with great experience. The club lowered the average age of the squad, which, however, at 28.4 years, remains the highest in Serie A.

After the successful insights of recent years on low-cost champions to be revived, above all Acerbi and Mkhitaryan, and the green line of the last transfer campaign, today it is not clear which path has been taken. In terms of age and technical priorities, the picture appears confused. Every other day, there are interests now for the right wing-back, now for the central defender, now for the playmaking midfielder.

After signing two 30-year-olds whose added value is easily imaginable, Inter oscillates between major investments in very young players, like Palestra who then slipped away, and moves towards established players like Diaby (27 years old) or Romero (28), whose transfer fees are almost unattainable and with little prospect of future capital gains. Win immediately or earn tomorrow? Or both? This is the question, and perhaps the current stalemate, with the lack of sales blocking the incoming market, sums up a strategic line that at the moment seems to be in the middle.

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