After missing out on Marco Palestra and losing ground in the race for Oumar Solet, Inter risk to come up empty-handed for another of their main targets, Curtis Jones, and have identified Niccolò Pisilli as a possible failsafe, Corriere dello Sport informs.

The Nerazzurri and the Reds haven’t gotten any closer after the initial approaches. The former tabled a €25M offer. The counterparty asks for €10/15M more. The midfielder is keen on the move but also has a sizeable wages that must be factored in the deal.

Inter are waiting for an opening for Jones, as his contract runs out in 2027, and, in the meantime, have shown some interest in Pisilli. Roma are facing a race against the clock to turn a profit on one of their players. Otherwise, they’ll have to argue in front of UEFA that they have done enough to repair their finances.

Despite that, the Giallorossi are unwilling to grant any discount. Gian Piero Gasperini wouldn’t like to lose the youngster either. However, if the Italian champions proposed €25M in the next couple of days, the capital club could waver. The relatively modest investment wouldn’t impede other chases. He’d simply replace Davide Frattesi, who’s on his way out.

Our Take on Inter, Jones, and Pisilli

The early reports about the Nerazzurri throwing money all over the yard were wildly exaggerated, but being careful and calculated is the hallmark of Giuseppe Marotta’s career. They have their own parameters and valuations and won’t get past those, at the cost of losing some targets. Either midfielder on their radar would be more of a complementary piece than a difference-maker, with all that entails money-wise.