While the Nerazzurri market is focused on two defenders, a winger and Curtis Jones, there is a role that almost no one is talking about: the need to have a fifth striker in the squad. With the two-striker formation and the many fixtures on the calendar, having five forwards would be fundamental to ensure adequate rotation.

Last season showed the limits of the current squad. Chivu, without Lautaro and Bonny and with the derby approaching, played the Coppa Italia semifinal against Como with only Esposito in attack. An emergency that highlights how problematic it can be not to have enough alternatives in the offensive department.

On the front of the other targets, the situation remains complicated. The departures of Acerbi and De Vrij force the club to intervene with two defensive signings, although the future of Pavard could change this perspective. As for the right winger, after the departure of Denzel Dumfries, Palestra had been identified as the ideal heir. The involvement of Chelsea and the slow pace of Oaktree‘s management machine – it took 45 days to raise the offer by just a few million – caused what was the primary target to slip away.

Then came the Khalaili issue, for whom CONI did not grant eligibility, forcing Inter to turn again to other profiles such as Spence. The negotiations for Jones have also stalled: Ausilio has not hidden his strong interest in the Liverpool midfielder, but the Reds are unlikely to let the player go for less than 40 million. The 25 million offer confirms a currently unbridgeable gap, which could mean yet another of Chivu’s requests will not be met.

Returning to the fifth striker, there is certainly no need for a 15-goal-a-season scorer. It would be enough to focus on a young player willing to accept the bench or an experienced forward able to guarantee reliability. A profile that would not require a large financial outlay – a fundamental aspect for Oaktree – and that would give Chivu the chance to rest Lautaro and Thuram more often. Continuing to talk about adapting Mkhitaryan, who hasn’t played in that role for years, or Frattesi, who is set to leave Milan, behind a lone striker in emergency situations, seems unrealistic.

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