Inter head into the final stretch of pre-season with their transfer business unfinished, and that uncertainty is shaping the mood around the club as much as anything happening on the pitch. Cristian Chivu's side beat Juventus 1-0 in Perth on Saturday, following a 1-1 draw against Milan three days earlier, and the results are secondary to the bigger picture: the squad still lacks a right wing-back and a central defender, and the season opener against Monza is less than three weeks away.

The search for Denzel Dumfries' replacement at right wing-back has repeatedly stalled. Two targets fell through before the window moved on, and Chivu has now publicly shifted his criteria, calling for an experienced, high-level profile rather than a younger option. In central defence, the pursuit of Cristian Romero has effectively collapsed, with the Argentine pushing to join Atletico Madrid instead. That leaves Benjamin Pavard's role and versatility central to Inter's defensive planning for now.

There is also the striker situation. Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram are both confirmed absentees for the start of Serie A, which puts Francesco Pio Esposito in line to lead the attack against Monza. The young forward started both pre-season matches in Australia, and Chivu has made clear that at least one of Inter's emerging forwards will carry significant responsibility early in the campaign.

Off the pitch, Hakan Calhanoglu dismissed speculation about a return to Turkey, stating his focus is on defending the Scudetto and reaching another Champions League final. The reigning champions enter 2026-27 with ambition intact, but the window closing without the right additions could test that confidence quickly.