Inter Milan have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Dutch forward Memphis Depay on a free transfer. Having already secured high-profile free transfers like Medhi Taremi and Piotr Zielinski, as well as addressing their goalkeeping situation with the acquisition of Pep Martinez from Genoa, the club’s priorities now lie in two areas: a left-footed defender and a second striker to complement their existing attacking options.
Calciomercato report that one name that has emerged as a potential target is Memphis Depay, who recently became a free agent after leaving Atletico Madrid. The Dutch international, who impressed at the European Championships in Germany, is reportedly seeking a salary of 5 million euros net per season. However, Inter’s owners, Oaktree Capital, are hesitant about committing to such a figure for a 30-year-old player, even without a transfer fee involved.
To put Depay’s potential signing into perspective, it’s worth examining Inter’s current wage structure for their attackers. According to Calcio&Finanza, the combined annual cost of Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram, Marko Arnautovic, and Mehdi Taremi amounts to approximately 41.9 million euros. Additionally, Joaquin Correa, who is not in the club’s plans, costs around 9 million euros per year.
If Inter were to sign Depay on his requested terms, his impact on the wage bill would be similar to that of Correa, falling between 9 and 10 million euros annually. This is slightly more than what Arnautovic currently costs the club.
The potential departure of Correa, who has been linked with a return to Lazio, could free up the necessary salary space for Depay’s arrival. However, Oaktree remains unconvinced about investing a significant portion of their budget on a player of Depay’s age.
As Inter continues to weigh their options, other targets like Albert Gudmundsson from Genoa remain on their radar. The club’s management, including Marotta, Ausilio, and Baccin, along with coach Simone Inzaghi, will need to carefully consider their strategy as they look to complete their attacking lineup for the upcoming season.
