Two of Europe’s wealthiest clubs have been left in shock at the price quoted by Inter Milan for defender Milan Skriniar, reports talkSPORT.
Barcelona and Manchester United are both tracking the Slovakia international but are surprised at the Nerazzurri’s £60m price tag. The 23-year-old has impressed in Internazionale’s resurgent Serie A campaign.
After finishing 7th last season, Luciano Spalletti has guided Inter back into the top four of Serie A, with the club eyeing a welcome and long overdue return to the Champions League.
Inter last competed in Europe’s premier club competition in 2011-12 when they lost to Marseille in the Round of Sixteen.
Skriniar’s importance to the team is reflected in the £60m fee. Inter don’t want the gifted centre-back to leave but if he does, are more than prepared to extract a massive cash injection for their transfer war chest.
Arsenal were also interested in the 16-times capped Slovakian, but such is his versatility that the fading north London giants are unlikely to attract his attention.
He appeared for much of the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign as a defensive midfielder for Slovakia. After finishing 10 points behind England in the group, the Slovaks were left disappointed at missing out on the playoffs by one point, with defeats in Scotland and Slovenia proving particularly costly.
Will that extra time tempt Inter into negotiations? The Italians have made it clear that they won’t begin talks without £60m on the table. Dare any of Europe’s elite miss the opportunity?
