Inter Milan Transfer Rumors: 5 Players Gian Piero Gasperini Will Target

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Just a few days ago, Massimo Moratti, Inter Milan president, hired his third manager in just over a year, after a tumultuous season where we saw a slow start, followed by a streaky midseason, and then an eventual second place in the Serie A and a brutal exit out of the Champions League. 

New head man Gian Piero Gasperini has a tall task ahead of him with rumors swirling around three of his biggest stars: Wesley Sneijder, Samuel Eto'o and Maicon. 

Gasperini is going to have to continue to keep up with the quality of play and pace that fellow San Siro inhabiters AC Milan currently have. Gasperini promised his best when talking to the media following the announcement of his hiring. 

Well, Gasperini's best will have to begin with making some solid sure fired transfers this summer. Let's take a look at a few targets the Nerazurri may look to this summer.

Jonathan: Santos

The Santos defender Jonathan is in talks with Inter Milan on a switch to the Italian Club. Jonathan, a right back, plays the same position Inter MIlan defender Maicon plays, another fellow Brazilian. With the possibility of Maicon on the move, Jonathan seems to be a perfect fit: young, quick, strong and hungry.

Jonathan is not shy about the possibility of his arrival to the San Siro, calling himself, "the heir to Maicon."

Jonathan is a confident 25-year-old who, in truth, can be the heir to Maicon and the steady rock the Nerazzuri have been so accustomed to with Maicon on the right side of the defense. 

Jonathan has been in talks with Inter, but nothing has been signed yet. He has a buy out clause of £13.3 million with Santos. 

Michael Essien: Chelsea

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Michael Essien has been a favorite of President Massimo Morratti for some time, but he is trying to get a feel for what new manager of Chelsea, Andre Villas-Boas, wants to do with him. 

Essien is a top-notch, high-quality midfielder who has been known to have a terrific shot when called upon. The Ghanaian 28-year-old would bring more speed and more quality to an aging midfield who are not able to push the ball forward as much as Nerazurri fans would like. 

Essien has been linked with AC Milan and German club, Bayern Munich. 

Raul Meireles: Liverpool

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Raul Meireles has been linked to a couple of Italian clubs, one being Inter Milan, the other, Juventus. Meireles would basically be sacrificed by Liverpool to Inter in hopes of being able to afford Stewart Downing.

The move would prove beneficial to Inter as they would be able to bolster their midfield and allow Gasperini to run heavy midfield formations like he enjoyed when he was with Genoa.

The Portuguese midfielder is 28 years old and would come at a price of approximately £12 million.

Ricky Alvarez: Velez Sarsfield

Inter Milan has reportedly swooped in and placed a higher bid on the table for midfielder Ricky Alvarez over English Premier Club Arsenal.

It was reported that Arsenal were close to completing a deal with Alvarez at a price of about £10 million, but it seems the Nerazurri have placed a bid of £12 million. New head man Gasperini is a big fan of Alvarez and feels that he fits the mold for the prototypical midfielder he is looking for as he moves forward with the Italian giants. 

Alvarez, 23, would bring the pace and quality that would complement nicely with Wesley Sneijder in the attacking half.

Nani: Manchester United

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Luis Nani has been made a target by Inter Milan in the last week or so. Nani would be a terrific acquisition for the Serie A club, but this might be a deal that would take place if a player like Sneijder were to jettison out of Italy.

It has been reported that Inter Milan was monitoring the situation with Nani as his price tag will be around £20 million. Massimo Moratti has said they will need to keep an eye on their budget this summer, but if Nani has the desire than the Italian midfield will be one of the best in the world.

I feel out of all the targets, this may be the most stretched to believe, but deals are never dead until the player signs.

 

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