- Player declined contract extension
- PSG preferred destination
- Manager wants Skriniar to stay
WHAT HAPPENED? Skriniar declined a lucrative contract last week, amid interest from PSG. Although he hasn't publicly commented on his future, it appears that a move to the Ligue 1 leaders is his priority. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, that switch could come early, with Inter open to selling the centre-back for €20 million(£17.5m/$22m) this January.
While the club do not want to lose one of their most important players, it might be prudent to cash in rather than lose Skriniar on a free transfer, especially given the centre-back has indicated that he wants out.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Losing Skriniar would be a big blow for Inter, with the Slovakian functioning as a key piece in SimoneInzaghi's side. And with the rest of Inzaghi's back three reaching their 30s, the defensive unit as a whole would need refreshing this summer. Inter already managed to keep Skriniar once, with the centre-back reportedly coming close to joining PSG last year, but now risk losing him midway through the season.
WHAT THEY SAID?: Inzaghi expressed his gratitude that Inter took Skriniar off the market after the Paris club made a substantial bid for him last summer: “It’s pleasing. It’s not easy for coaches to organise games when the transfer market is still open, we need to keep everyone concentrated on the objective," Inzaghi said.
IN THREE PHOTOS:
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR SKRINIAR? The centre-back will be among the XI as Inter take on Empoli in Serie A tonight. It could be his last game in an Inter shirt.