The Serie A champions have made securing a right winger their top priority, with 27-year-old Diaby identified as manager Cristian Chivu’s primary target following a failed attempt to land the Frenchman last January.
Inter’s Next Move and Financial Parameters
According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the Nerazzurri are preparing a new, improved financial bid after their opening offer—consisting of €20 million plus Albanian midfielder Kristjan Asllani—was flatly rejected by the Jeddah club’s management. Al-Ittihad’s hierarchy balked at the idea of a player-swap arrangement. While Diaby commands massive wages in the Saudi Pro League under a contract running until 2030 that pays him €10M net annually, sources indicate he would accept a more manageable €6M salary to move to San Siro. Inter’s board is not concerned about personal terms, but officials must bridge the valuation gap with Al-Ittihad, which invested €60M to sign the winger in July 2024.
Bayer Leverkusen Enters the Race
Inter face direct competition for Diaby’s signature from Bayer Leverkusen. According to Mediaset, the German club has tabled a purely financial offer in the same €30M ballpark as Inter’s anticipated package, matching a comparable €6M salary structure. However, Diaby has shown no immediate enthusiasm for a return to the Bundesliga club, where he played from 2019 to 2023 before moving to Aston Villa. That hesitation has kept the door open for Inter to orchestrate a fresh approach before the mid-August deadline.
Tactical Adjustments and Squad Impact
The pursuit of a specialist right winger has taken on urgent importance following Denzel Dumfries’ departure, which left a significant tactical void on the flank. Throughout pre-season preparations, coach Cristian Chivu has deployed Luis Henrique and Andy Diouf out of position to cover the gap. Diouf has featured prominently, including scoring against Juventus in a Perth friendly, but club officials view those solutions as temporary fixes rather than long-term answers. Meanwhile, Inter have held preliminary contacts regarding Juventus outcast Nicolas Gonzalez, though he remains a secondary contingency plan rather than a priority as the club focuses its efforts entirely on landing Diaby.
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