Inter are monitoring Lecce’s prolific new recruit

Inter won’t sign a free agent to replace Marko Arnautovic, who’ll miss considerable time with a thigh strain, but they are keeping tabs on possible future targets, and director Piero Ausilio is particularly keen on Nikola Krstovic, Calciomercato informs.

The striker has had a devastating impact with Serie A, scoring three goals in four matches. Lecce acquired him from Dunajska Streda for €3.8M plus €0.7M add-ons. He filled his boots in Slovakia after first bursting onto the scenes with Zeta Golubovac.

Inter could sign a new striker in January if Arnautovic struggles to stay healthy, and Krstovic would be top of the list if he kept going. However, that would also increase his price tag. The Nerazzurri have used up their transfer market budget. Signing him will likely be easier next summer.

La Beneamata extensively mulled making an offensive investment in the previous window. They pursued Folarin Balogun and Alvaro Morata. In the end, they preferred doing so in the back, onboarding Benjamin Pavard.

In hindsight, it’s easy to argue they could have been fine in the back even without a splash and that adding a youngster up front would have been more useful. Still, they’ll be in a good spot as long as Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram stay healthy. The Serb is a walking plusvalenza, but Lecce would need to be in a really good spot for them to sell in January.