Inter Milan are putting the final measures in place to sign PSV Eindhoven full-back Denzel Dumfries, according to TuttoMercatoWEB, to end Everton’s hopes of a summer transfer.
The Nerazzurri have courted Dumfries since his remarkable Euro 2020, as they target a replacement for Achraf Hakimi. Paris Saint-Germain paid an initial £52m for the Moroccan in July, just a year after he moved to the San Siro from Real Madrid for an upfront £36m.
Dumfries could finalise his Inter Milan transfer by the end of the week, after rejecting a potential move to Everton. The Liverpool Echo report Rafa Benitez instructed Director of Football Marcel Brands to sign the Dutchman, as they eye Seamus Coleman’s successor.
Brands and Benitez will have to continue scouting alternatives to one-day replace Coleman at Goodison Park, though. Inter have agreed to pay PSV an initial €12.5m (£11m) with an additional €2.5m (£2m) in potential add-ons for Dumfries, who Everton wanted on loan.
Inter expediated negotiations with the Eredivisie outfit on Thursday so Dumfries could fly to Italy for his medical. Football-Italia add the 25-year-old’s medical started in Milan on Friday morning, after arriving at Linate Airport late on Thursday night.
Everton always faced a struggle to sign Dumfries from PSV as the 23-cap dynamo promised himself to Inter Milan. He now leaves the Philips Stadion after three seasons, having made 124 appearances, scored 16 goals and provided 20 assists.
His medical should be the final step between Dumfries becoming an Inter Milan player or his move falling through. Fabrizio Romano reported the Nerazzurri and full-back agreed on personal terms earlier in the week, before settling negotiations with PSV.
Everton continue Coleman search as Inter close on PSV star Dumfries
Dumfries would have been a promising candidate to succeed Coleman if Everton struck a deal with PSV before Inter Milan. But Benitez and Brands must now continue their search for the Republic of Ireland star’s eventual replacement, instead.
Dumfries extended his form into the summer with two goals and an assist at Euro 2020. His creativity was instrumental to Frank de Boer’s side escaping the group stage. But he could not help the Netherlands progress beyond the Last 16, after losing to the Czech Republic.
The soon-to-be Inter Milan defender’s goal against Austria was particularly impressive when he popped up in the six-yard box. It certainly caught BBC Sport commentator Jonathan Pearce’s attention, who exclaimed: “The freight train has arrived again!”
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