Barcelona and Inter Milan discussed four players in recent meeting – report

It was revealed in a recent report that Barcelona met with Inter Milan officials to discuss plans for their summer transfer window. The two teams have been going back and forth for a few months, with mutual interest in a fair few players on each end.

According to SPORT, the two parties discussed four players in said meeting: Marcelo Brozovic, Jordi Alba, Franck Kessie, and Samuel Umtiti.

Brozovic

Barcelona will be looking to sign a defensive midfielder in the summer to replace Sergio Busquets in the long term. While the Spaniard has been offered a contract renewal, the club want to sort out that position as soon as possible.

Brozovic becomes an enticing option for Barça given his profile. The staff believe he would fit in seamlessly in the team, and his salary will not be a problem, either.

In fact, the Italian was rumoured with a switch to the Camp Nou last summer, too, but ended up signing an extension with Inter. His situation in the team has changed drastically over the season, though, with Hakan Calhanoglu now preferred to him as the pivot.

Alba

Currently third-choice captain of Barcelona, Alba, much like Brozovic, commands a starting role in the team. He has been replaced by Alejandro Balde, who has done an excellent job of breaking into the first-team under Xavi.

As such, Barcelona want to offload Alba come the summer. More so because they will have to pay him nearly €38 million in total wages, including the deferred salaries from the last two seasons.

Reports have suggested that Alba does not want to leave the club, but has publicly said he’s open to take another salary cut and/or deferment.

He was linked to a move to Inter in the summer of 2022, but the move never transpired as the player wants to fulfil his contract – lasting until 2024.

Kessie

Despite having signed for Barcelona no earlier than the summer of 2022, Kessie is already rumoured with a move away from the club. He had problems adjusting to the squad after arriving, but has since done well to find a place for himself in a crowded midfield.

Inter have been interested in his signature for a while, and were talks with the Catalans in January, too. The player’s agency has made it clear, though, that he has no intention to move just one season after joining.

Umtiti

Currently playing for Lecce on loan, Samuel Umtiti seems to have finally reignited a version of himself that was close to the player that Barcelona fans saw during his initial two seasons at the Camp Nou.

As a consequence, there are finally teams looking to bring him in hoping he can maintain his fitness and form, including AC Milan.

Inter are another interested party, especially they are set to lose Milan Skriniar, who is set to join PSG on a free transfer. Stefan de Vrij’s future is also up in the air.

And for a team in financial turmoil, Inter will be looking to sign low-cost replacements for these players, and Umtiti is definitely one of the options that can be explored.