Arsenal and West Ham United have suffered a setback in their pursuit of Filip Kostic, as the Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder hopes to complete a transfer to Inter Milan during January.
That’s according to Sport Mediaset, who report Kostic ‘strongly wants’ to move to the San Siro before the market closes. The Nerazzurri have opened talks with the 29-year-old over a switch to Serie A this month, as Chairman Giuseppe Marotta eyes Ivan Perisic’s successor.
Perisic is out of contract in the summer, so Marotta wants to secure Inter Milan’s next star winger early. He also deems Kostic the 32-year-old’s perfect replacement, having offered 10 assists and three goals so far this season. Kostic has started in 22 of his 23 appearances.
Inter Milan are in talks with Eintracht Frankfurt over Kostic’s potential transfer to Italy. But Die Adler snubbed Marotta’s first offer of a loan featuring an option to buy the Serbian this summer. Talks between the Serie A and Bundesliga outfits still remain ongoing, however.
Kostic is attempting to force Eintracht Frankfurt’s hand to seal a transfer to Inter Milan, as well. He longs for the blue-and-black jersey, and Marotta hopes to get a deal done soon.
Inter Milan deal Arsenal and West Ham blow in Filip Kostic transfer race
Inter Milan holding talks with Eintracht Frankfurt and Kostic’s wish for the San Siro is a blow for Arsenal and West Ham in their bid to seal the left-sided maestro’s transfer this month.
Reports by Calciomercato have cited the Gunners and Irons as rivals to Lazio and Fiorentina in Italy plus Atletico Madrid and Sevilla in Spain. Kostic has a wide market of suitors having lit up the Bundesliga, with seven assists and three goals this season.
The 43-cap dynamo is also only under contract at Deutsche Bank Park until June 2023. So, Tuttosport report Eintracht Frankfurt would sell Kostic for just €10m (£8.5m) in January.
Arsenal spent more than that on Pablo Mari. They paid Flamengo £4m in January 2020 to loan the defender and £8m to make his move permanent. Yet he joined Udinese on loan this week, having played 22 times for the Gunners. He also only featured three times this term.
But paying Eintracht Frankfurt £8.5m for Kostic’s transfer could seal Arsenal or West Ham a phenomenal playmaker. The Serbia winger has delivered the most crosses in open play in Bundesliga matches this term (122). He also has 23 more than any player in the division.
Also, former Frankfurt Sporting Director Fredi Bobic showered Kostic with praise while at Deutsche Bank Park. “He showcased his extraordinary qualities [at Stuttgart] and then at Hamburg,” he said, via quotes by Bundesliga.com.
“He’s a quiet and reserved guy, works very hard in training and puts in extra running shifts. He’s a top professional.”
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