Newcastle have emerged as suitors for Davide Frattesi, joining Lazio in the race for the Inter midfielder after being knocked back in their pursuit of Aleksandar Stanković.
According to Tuttomercatoweb, relaying Corriere dello Sport, Frattesi’s departure now looks close to a certainty after several windows of speculation. Newcastle, in the market for a midfielder following the exit of Bruno Guimarães, had initially asked about Stanković, only for Inter to shut the door on the youngster, before pointing the Magpies towards Frattesi instead, a player valued at around €25m.
Crucially for Inter, a sale of the Italy international would help fund their long-held pursuit of Liverpool’s Curtis Jones, the midfielder Cristian Chivu wants and for whom room must first be created.
Lazio in second place as Inter weigh Frattesi options
Lazio, too, remain interested, but from a weaker position.
The Biancocelesti could only realistically take Frattesi on a loan, at most with a conditional obligation to buy and a hefty sell-on percentage attached, a structure that leaves them behind a club able to offer a straight permanent deal.
Frattesi, for his part, is understood to be open to a first experience in the Premier League.
Stanković, meanwhile, is going nowhere. The midfielder, brought back from Club Brugge via a buy-back clause and admired by several clubs, is a player Inter are determined to keep, and one who wants to stay and fight for his place at San Siro.
Beyond that, Inter’s hierarchy are also seeking an exit before the window closes for Kristjan Asllani and a loan for Yanis Massolin.
