Inter Milan are set to sign Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan.
According to Gazzetta Dello Sport, Inter Milan are set to tie up the €24million (£21million) signing of Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan, with Davide Santon and Nicolo Zaniolo heading in the opposite direction.
Inter are back in the Champions League next season, and after landing Stefan de Vrij on a free transfer from Lazio, they appear to be raiding Rome’s other giants.
Roma midfielder Nainggolan has been a star ever since his 2013 move from Cagliari, and he has racked up more than 200 appearances for Roma, bagging 33 goals along the way.
The Belgian international – who has earned 30 caps for his country but was bizarrely left out of their World Cup squad this summer – has been key for Roma, but he’s now on his way out.
Roma are cashing in on the 30-year-old whilst his value is still reasonably high, and the move may yet prove to be a major boost for Tottenham Hotspur, if reports are to be believed.
Inter are signing Nainggolan, seemingly instead of pursuing a permanent deal for loanee Rafinha, after the Barcelona midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan at the San Siro, notching two goals and three assists in 17 games.
SPORT in Catalunya report that Inter won’t pay the £31million buyout clause in Rafinha’s loan deal, and with the cheaper Nainggolan on his way to the San Siro, Rafinha’s future is now up in the air.
Whilst Inter were the favourites for Rafinha’s signature, SPORT’s report that Tottenham are keen may now leave Mauricio Pochettino’s men in pole position for the Brazilian, and once Nainggolan’s move is complete, Spurs would be smart to contact Barcelona and pursue a deal for the left-footed midfielder.
Inter appear to be out of the way, and the strongest links are now with Tottenham – and as Spurs consider possible successors to Mousa Dembele, 25-year-old Rafinha certainly fits the bill, especially as he appears to be openly available.
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