Reported Aston Villa and West Ham United target Matias Vecino has a place in Antonio Conte’s plans and will stay at Inter Milan until the summer, according to Tuttomercatoweb.
In this most changeable of markets, a Uruguayan international has been dragged from pillar to post in recent weeks.
Calciomercato reported around Christmas that Premier League duo Aston Villa and West Ham had both made offers for the £18 million-rated Vecino, who, at the time, was heavily tipped to bid farewell to San Siro in January.
But with Radja Nainggolan departing instead, joining former club Cagliari on loan, and the out-of-favour Christian Eriksen also being shoved out the door, TMW reports that Inter have changed their stance on Vecino.
The 29-year-old former Fiorentina ace will soon be back in contention after a prolonged spell on the sidelines with injury.
And, according to reports from Italy, Vecino’s energy and adaptability could make him a key player for an Inter side sitting just three points off the top of the Serie A table.
“He is working separately, he is integrating (back into the team) and it will take some time, but you know as I said in the past that there will be no entries or exits (in January),” Conte explained.
“Therefore, when he is well, he will be reinstated in the team and will be part of the group in all respects.”
TMW believe that Vecino’s return to the team is the very definition of a short-term, quick fix. Inter are still expected to cash in on their long-serving midfielder over the summer, with his contract due to expire in 2022.
For Aston Villa and West Ham, then, patience is key here.
Vecino will be available – just not right now.
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