Inter Milan is making waves this summer as the Italian club aims to secure the signing of Sweden international Isak Hien from Atalanta. Reports from Tuttosport, relayed by FCInterNews, suggest the Nerazzurri are poised to offer Atalanta two promising young players to make the deal sweeter. The club sees Hien as the ideal successor to veteran defender Francesco Acerbi.
Even though Acerbi signed a contract extension earlier this season, head coach Simone Inzaghi is already preparing for life after the 36-year-old. The hunt for reinforcements is on, and Beppe Marotta, Inter Milan's president, is on the lookout for new defenders. Targeting Hien seems to be the priority, accelerating past other contenders, including Udinese star Jaka Bijol, who had long been on the club's radar.
Atalanta has set the price tag for Hien at around €30 million, but Inter isn't willing to pay the full amount without negotiating. They are considering using talented youngsters Valentin Carboni or Francesco Pio Esposito as part of the proposed transfer. Marotta is known for his strategic approach and is unlikely to focus solely on one target. Therefore, Inter Milan is still keeping tabs on Bijol, as well as Lazio defender Mario Gila, ensuring they have back-up plans if the Hien pursuit falters.
Meanwhile, the South African Kaizer Chiefs are also eyeing talent from Sweden as they seek to beef up their squad. Reports indicate the Chiefs have set their eyes on midfielder Luke Le Roux, currently playing for IFK Varnamo. Le Roux's move to Sweden followed his time with Dutch side Volendam, and it's still uncertain if he would agree to make the switch back to South Africa during the upcoming January transfer window.
According to Soccer Laduma, the Chiefs are enthusiastic about Le Roux potentially adding quality and depth to their midfield. "They are looking at boosting their midfield whether with a winger or a N.10 and Le Roux is one of the players they are considering," explained one insider from the club.
Historically, the Chiefs have made significant signings from overseas, and there is hope within the camp to convince Le Roux to return. He has been called up for the national team, even if he hasn't yet made his mark regularly, and there is belief this move could be pivotal as he aims to solidify his place on the national squad before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Yet, the situation isn't straightforward. A second source highlighted, "Even if we say they have the money to bring him back home... it will depend on the player himself whether he wants to come back home or not." Le Roux has established himself well during his stint in Sweden, which complicates matters for the Chiefs.
His agent, Mathew Moore, does not believe a January move is likely, citing the competition for midfield spaces at Kaizer Chiefs. Moore appears to be weighing options for his client, hinting at the possibility of offers once the season ends instead.
Could this make for interesting transfer headlines? Let’s keep our eyes on how these developments play out. Both Inter Milan and Kaizer Chiefs have significant decisions to make, which will undoubtedly influence the courses of both Hien and Le Roux’s careers.