Given that the final match of their Liga season represented nothing more than a dead rubber for Atletico Madrid, the relentless Diego Simeone is probably pacing up and down corridors right now, bouncing off walls and seeking a competitive edge to something.

However many arm wrestles or thumb wars the Argentinian coach can goad others into engaging in, the real battle still lies over a week away in Milan, where UEFA Champions League final revenge that has been two years in the making could finally come to pass.

You get the feeling that Simeone would face up to Real Madrid right now if he had the choice, and Spanish publication AS seems to think he’s already settled on 10 of the 11 names that he will trust to fight his battle for him, supposedly in a 4-4-2 formation.

The newspaper reported on Thursday:

The Argentinian coach was back drilling his odds-on eleven for Milan.

El Cholo is widely believed to favour a 4-4-2 against Madrid, with Saúl, Gabi, Augusto [Fernandez] and Koke in midfield and Fernando Torres and [Antoine] Griezmann leading the attack.

You can add four of the back five to that in goalkeeper Jan Oblak, left-back Filipe Luis, centre-back Diego Godin and right-back Juanfran, and so that only leaves one position left for Simeone to obsess over as his masterplan for overcoming Real Madrid comes together.

Here’s AS again:

The one doubt to be resolved is the central defensive partnership.

Given that Godín is a nailed-on starter, on Tuesday the Uruguayan paired up with compatriot [Jose] Giménez, and on Wednesday with [Stefan] Savic.

On Thursday the central pairing saw Godín tellingly play alongside his compatriot Giménez again, although with over a week left to go until the big day, Simeone could still change things around.

Keeping Real Madrid guessing, or trying to make his own mind up? It is probably about 49 per cent of the former and 51 of the latter.

All things being equal, you’d expect Simeone to choose the prodigiously talented young centre-back Jose Gimenez, but the Uruguayan has been troubled with injuries of late, only returning from his latest Achilles problem in the home match with Malaga last month.

The 21-year-old has played four more times after that, but when Simeone had the chance to give him more game time against Celta Vigo on the final day of the season, he opted for Stefan Savic alongside Godin. The pair kept a clean sheet.

Former Manchester City defender Savic—signed from Fiorentina last summer—has been a valuable squad addition in the wake of Miranda’s departure for Inter Milan at around about the same time.

Like his career at City, though, the Montenegrin has never been able to consistently hold down a place at Vicente Calderon Stadium.

His Champions League experience this season has largely centred around late cameo appearances, although in Godin’s absence he did start alongside Gimenez and impressed in the 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in the first leg of the semi-final.

That Simeone is looking at him in training suggests there must be question marks over Gimenez’s suitability for such a big match, even this far away from a contest which his manager can’t wait to come around.

But given that Simeone is a manager who places immense trust in all of his players, you get the feeling that it would take something drastic for him not to start with Gimenez against the attacking trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.

The Uruguayan might not look like the prototype, rugged central defender in the manner that Savic does, but this is a player with experience beyond his years. He started and starred for his country at the 2014 World Cup while he was still a teenager, and he has impressed anyone who has seen him up close.

There’s a reason that next Saturday’s opponents are reportedly ready to spend £51 million on him in the summer, per Marca (h/t Rohan Banerjee of MailOnline), as they look to revolutionise their central defence.

They’ll have to beat him before they can try and get him to join them, though, and even if the restless Simeone is triple-checking Gimenez’s fitness before the big day, he’ll be more than ready if called upon.

Simeone wouldn’t allow anything else.

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The last game of Italy’s 2015-16 program is set to be played on Saturday as AC Milan and Juventus square off in the final of the Coppa Italia.

It’s a meeting of Serie A giants, but the position of the clubs couldn’t be more different.

Juventus has just completed one of the most incredible seasons in Serie A’s history.  They started their fourth consecutive title defense in the worst way possible.  After 10 games, they only had 12 points and sat in 12th place.  No team had ever won the Scudetto after such a start.

But the Bianconeri tapped into the winning spirit that had been instilled in them by former coach Antonio Conte and began an epic run.  Starting with a last-second 2-1 win in the Derby della Mole on Halloween night, they won 15 straight games, the last of which was a first-against-second battle against Napoli that vaulted them into a familiar place—top of the table.

They finished the season with 16 wins, one draw and one loss, winning the title with three games to spare.

Milan, on the other hand, have endured another difficult season.  Former coach Sinisa Mihajlovic lost four of his first seven games, including an embarrassing 4-0 hammering at the hands of Napoli at the beginning of October.

But things slowly improved.  In the 20 games after Napoli, the Rossoneri only lost twice—once at Juventus and once in the first game after the winter break against Bologna.  After that loss, they went 11 games unbeaten.  That included their best performance of the season, a 3-0 win over crosstown rivals Inter Milan.

But March brought disaster.  They only won twice in the league after the beginning of that month, allowing tiny upstarts Sassuolo to creep up and pip them for sixth place.  Now, they must defeat Juve to have any chance of qualifying for European competition next season.

In order for them to do that, they need a big day from Carlos Bacca.

The Colombian joined the Rossoneri this summer from Sevilla for a €30 million fee, and he was an instant hit.  By the beginning of November, he had scored six times.  In January, he scored in five straight matches, shooting him up the league’s scoring charts.

He finished third in the league with 18 goals, behind only Juve’s Paulo Dybala and Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain.  What’s remarkable is that he did this with hardly any service.  

According to WhoScored.com, Bacca only managed to take two shots per game.  Compared to Dybala’s 3.1 per game and Higuain’s 5.2, it’s a paltry number.  To put up the numbers he did with such terrible service is quite a feat.

Unfortunately, Bacca’s form has dropped in the last few months.  While he did score in each of Milan’s last three games, he had only scored twice in the previous 10.

Part of this drop-off probably comes down to the familiar problem of a lack of service.  Fatigue may also play a part.  The 29-year-old played a full UEFA Europa League campaign the last two years with Sevilla, playing the final in both seasons.  He’s also been on Colombia’s team for both the 2014 World Cup and last year’s Copa America.

Since the start of the 2013-14 season, he’s played 150 games at the club level in addition to his international duties.

Bacca has one last game to play this season, though—and the opposition he’ll come up against will be fierce.

According to WhoScored, Juve has used a 3-5-2 formation in 25 games in Serie A this season, and another three in the UEFA Champions League.

Juve’s vaunted three-man back line of Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini—their own version of “BBC” in answer to Real Madrid’s similarly monikered front line—has been one of the best units of their kind in Europe over the last five years.  But that unit will be separated on Saturday.

Bonucci, who usually operates as the pivot in the center of the three, will be suspended for the final after exceeding the tournament’s disciplinary threshold.

That means Daniele Rugani will slot into the defense.  That doesn’t necessarily mean a drop in quality—the 21-year-old is one of the best young defensive prospects in the world and has impressed during Chiellini’s long injury absences this year—but it will mean a change in where everyone is.

Rugani has manned both the left and right of the line this year, but he’s never covered for Bonucci in the middle and it’s unlikely he’ll do so here.  Barzagli will likely man that spot—and will be the one in direct confrontation with Bacca.

Barzagli played in 41 matches between the league, Champions League, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa.  He’s put in a typical performance.  One of the best players in the world at his position, the 35-year-old has kept the lid on some of the world’s best strikers this season, from Sergio Aguero to Higuain to Bacca.

He’s not a volume tackler.  WhoScored clocked him at 0.9 tackles per game this season.  The physical side of defending is normally left to Bonucci and Chiellini.  What Barzagli does is deny goalscorers the ball.  He averages 2.2 interceptions per game, and there have been countless more instances where he has denied a cross or hounded a dribbler into a position where an incisive pass is impossible.

Barzagli’s job will be to keep Bacca under control the way he did in November’s 1-0 home win over Milan, when WhoScored recorded that the Colombian was held without a shot.  Bacca was similarly shackled in the return game, making only two attempts on goal and hitting the target once.

This game will come down to a battle between one of Italy’s best strikers and arguably its best defender.

If Bacca can break free and get a good ball or two, he could change the balance of the game.  But if Barzagli takes the upper hand and Juve’s defense locks down, Milan’s last chance of getting to Europe will be all but snuffed out.

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Carlos Bacca has been a solid performer for AC Milan this season. Playing a part in every single league game, he hit 18 goals in his debut Serie A campaign to justify the £22.5 million transfer fee paid to sign him last summer.

In what has been an underwhelming campaign for the club, the Colombian’s clinical finishes have provided relief. But he may not be around for much longer.

Corriere dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) reported that Bacca is disconcerted about the idea of not playing in the UEFA Champions League again next season and that Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund are among those interested in the striker.

The player failed to confirm or deny rumours about his future when Calciomercato quizzed him, saying: “My mind is on the present. You never know about the future, it’s in God’s hands.”

Selling their top scorer would be a controversial move, but for the right transfer fee, it may be the correct call for Milan to make at this point in time.

Performance

Bacca’s ability to convert chances is rivalled by few other strikers in Italy. His efficacy is based on precise finishing—according to Squawka, his shot accuracy of 63 per cent is higher than the two players ahead of him in Serie A’s 2015-16 scoring charts, Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala.

Preferring to play on the shoulder of the last man, his movement in the final third is exceptional. He is intelligent when it comes to finding gaps for through balls and provides a menacing penalty-area presence. Indeed, all of his league goals for Milan have come inside the 18-yard box.

However, while he is a superb taker of opportunities, his all-around game is lacking, something discussed in this post.

While persistent, he is no master dribbler. This perhaps explains why both M’Baye Niang and Mario Balotelli have completed comparatively more take-ons per game. His link-up play is also fairly basic, and he wins fewer headers than Luiz Adriano and Niang.

On top of that, he completes fewer tackles per game than his striking colleagues, which offers statistical confirmation that, while a hard worker, he is not particularly comfortable dropping back to defend when the team doesn’t have possession. Essentially, he is a specialist.

Comparisons

According to Transfermarkt, Milan paid £3.75 million above market value to sign Bacca prior to this season. He has since held his value, though considering he is in his late 20s, a period when most outfield players tend to peak, this may be set to drop in the coming years.

According to Bruce Archer of the Daily Express, relaying reports from Italy, the Rossoneri may be willing to sell the player for around £23 million. If this is a fee interested parties intend to offer, it is one well worth considering.

Per Squawka, the former Sevilla man is outside of the top 10 attackers in Serie A in terms of overall contribution. Napoli’s Higuain, Juventus’ Dybala, Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi, Sassuolo’s Domenico Berardi, Torino’s Andrea Belotti and Genoa’s Leonardo Pavoletti are all rated ahead of him in this category.

Additionally, it’s worth noting the aforementioned forwards are younger than the 29-year-old Bacca.

When taking into account his average all-around play, which fits rather clumsily into the two-striker system Milan have used for much of this season, and his advanced age, the notion of making a small profit on the player should entice the Rossoneri.

Replacements

In February, Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia) reported that Pavoletti was on the Rossoneri’s radar as a potential summer signing. The Genoa centre-forward hit 14 goals this season and earned a call-up to Antonio Conte’s Italy squad for a pre-UEFA Euro 2016 training camp.

At 27, he is two years younger than Bacca. According to Squawka, he is more active in building attacking moves, completing more passes, as well as more involved defensively, winning more tackles. And while he beats his marker on the ground significantly less, he does win over five times more aerial challenges than the Milan poacher.

Given this, and the fact Pavoletti is rated at just £3.75 million by Transfermarkt, the Italian would seem to be a viable replacement for the Colombian should he leave the San Siro in the summer.

Another affordable alternative comes in the shape of Belotti, who has hit 12 league goals this season. Rated at £5.25 million by Transfermarkt, he—like Pavoletti—also offers more with his all-around game, completing more passes and take-ons and winning more aerial duels and tackles. Furthermore, at just 22, he has far more upside than Milan’s top scorer.

Sale

Selling Bacca would be a bold decision by the Rossoneri hierarchy, but it is one that could pay off handsomely. As such, the club would be well advised to consider accepting any bid for the player of around £23 million.

That would allow Milan to more than recoup their outlay on the forward, consequently enabling possible reinvestment, not only on a relatively inexpensive, younger and more versatile striker, but also in other weak areas within the squad.

All statistics provided by WhoScored.com unless otherwise stated.

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Yaya Toure looks set to depart Manchester City over the summer, but according to his agent, Dimitry Seluk, he will only make a permanent switch away from the Etihad Stadium rather than leave on loan.

Continue for updates.

Toure’s Agent ‘Talking’ to Inter Milan 

Wednesday, May 18

“It’s true, we’re talking with [Inter Milan manager Roberto] Mancini,” revealed Seluk, per Italian outlet Calciomercato (via the Manchester Evening News‘ James Robson).

“We’re looking for a solution with [City], who want to sell Toure only up front, not on loan. I can’t say if there are other teams interested. He has a contract, but nothing special. Inter? It’s a good club,” he added.

Seluk said the 33-year-old Ivorian’s future will be decided in the next 10 days, according to Robson.

Mancini was in charge at City when Toure arrived at the Etihad from Barcelona in 2010.

The pair won the FA Cup and Premier League together before Mancini, now 51, was sacked in May 2013 and subsequently replaced by Manuel Pellegrini.

Toure’s impact in the City side has declined over recent seasons, with his Premier League goal tally dropping from a career high of 20 in 2013-14 to 10 the season after and just six in the 2015-16 campaign, per WhoScored.com.

It has long been expected the arrival of incoming manager Pep Guardiola at City would spell the end of Toure’s Sky Blues career.

And with only one season left on his current deal with City, it seems he is destined for a move to Serie A’s Inter and a reunion with Mancini.  

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Fiorentina will reportedly demand €30 million―roughly £23 million―from Chelsea in compensation fees for the failed transfer of winger Mohammed Salah. 

According to La Nazione (h/t Calciomercato.com’s Lorenzo Bettoni), Fiorentina’s lawyers have calculated the club lost out on €30 million without Salah, based on the amount of matches the Egypt international should have played for the club and the transfer fee La Viola had to spend to buy his replacement, Nikola Kalinic.

Salah refused his transfer to Fiorentina when the club exercised its option to make his loan permanent last summer, and he instead moved to Serie A rivals Roma. Fiorentina maintain he had no right to do so, while Salah’s entourage disagrees, per the report.

At the time, Fiorentina were furious, as Salah’s original loan deal was for 18 months, perGoal. Even if the player had refused to honour the clause to make the move permanent, which remains a point of contention, he should have returned to Florence for the 2015-16 campaign.

His 18-month loan deal was part of the Blues’ move for Juan Cuadrado, which explains why La Viola still hold a grudge against the club as well.

Per MailOnline’s Oliver Todd, Fiorentina threatened legal action as early as last July.

Salah enjoyed a remarkable resurgence with Fiorentina after a difficult spell with Chelsea, playing a key role in the club’s run to the UEFA Europa League semi-finals. Along the way, he scored key goals against the likes of Juventus and Inter Milan, and quickly became a fan favourite at the Estadio Artemio Franchi.

Here’s a look at his Fiorentina highlights:

But while Fiorentina enjoyed fine form on the pitch, trouble was brewing behind the scenes. Manager Vincenzo Montella, widely seen as the architect of the club’s success, was sacked last June.

Per WhoScored.com, Salah scored an impressive 14 Serie A goals for Roma this season, and his strong play likely added to Fiorentina’s frustrations.

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Liverpool are reportedly “closing in” on signing Mainz goalkeeper Loris Karius for £4.7 million as they look to bring in competition for current No. 1 Simon Mignolet. 

Per James Pearce in the Liverpool Echo, though an agreement has yet to be reached, “the Reds are confident of securing the services” of the 22-year-old German and manager Jurgen Klopp is “a big admirer.” 

German outlets Bild, Express and Kicker also reported that the move is imminent, although his release clause at a slightly more expensive €10 million (£7.8 million), via Sport Witness.

Despite his youth, Karius is already a very experienced player and has been Mainz’s No. 1 goalkeeper in the Bundesliga for the past three seasons, accumulating 91 German top-flight appearances, per WhoScored.com.

With Adam Bogdan currently not providing Mignolet with much competition at Anfield, and set to leave Liverpool in the summer, the Reds need added depth between the posts.

Indeed, Mignolet himself is viewed by many as not being good enough to be the No. 1 in a side with title aspirations, with the 28-year-old Belgian’s error-prone performances having cost Liverpool valuable points in 2015-16, per the Telegraph‘s Ali Tweedale:

Karius looks to have all the attributes to become a top-class goalkeeper, and he would undoubtedly compete for the No. 1 spot on Merseyside should he make the switch in the summer, per DW Sports’ Jonathan Harding:

He is only going to improve as he gets older and more experienced, and at just shy of £5 million—or even £8 million—Karius could end up being a bargain for Liverpool if he proves to be an asset to the club over the next decade.

Meanwhile, Liverpool are also reportedly “tracking” Inter Milan’s Jeison Murillo—along with Leicester City—and have “made enquiries” about the 23-year-old centre-back, per Italian outlet Leggo (via Calciomercato).

A key part of Klopp’s imminent squad overhaul at Liverpool will be to address longstanding issues with the defence, and he has already confirmed the signing of Schalke centre-back Joel Matip.

But, with Martin Skrtel and Kolo Toure no longer good enough, Dejan Lovren still unreliable and Mamadou Sakho set for a long suspension, the Reds need more than one new addition in the centre of their defence.

Colombian Murillo was a key part of Inter’s defence as they finished fourth in Serie A during the 2015-16 season—they had the third-best defensive record in the division—appearing 34 times, per WhoScored.

Elsewhere, Liverpool youngster Sergi Canos—who made his Reds debut on Sunday—is reportedly in a “contract stand-off” with the club and could depart if a new deal cannot be agreed.

According to Jack Pitt-Brooke in the Independent, the 19-year-old Spanish winger has only one year left to run on his current deal at Anfield, and Liverpool may be forced to sell him for £1 million this summer to one of several interested parties—including Brentford, Reading, Fulham and Rangers—if he does not accept the contract he is being offered.

Pitt-Brooke added that a new deal worth £3,000 per week is already on the table at Liverpool, but that is “one-third of what he could hope to command if he left.”

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The biggest game of the season for both Liverpool and Sevilla comes on Wednesday night, as the two sides take to FC Basel’s St. Jakob-Park for the UEFA Europa League final, with the tactical clash finely balanced for managers Jurgen Klopp and Unai Emery.

With a place in the UEFA Champions League group stage up for grabs for the victor, both sides will see this as a must-win fixture, having failed to guarantee a place in European competition for 2016/17.

Klopp and Emery are two of Europe’s finest managerial minds, both renowned for their studious tactical approach—the Liverpool manager brought analyst Peter Krawietz with him when he arrived on Merseyside, while Emery hands a USB drive to each player to prepare for each game, explaining their specific roles.

Both sides are relatively free of injury heading into Wednesday’s clash, with the Reds now missing only centre-back Joe Gomez, while Mamadou Sakho is unavailable through suspension, and Sevilla are without Michael Krohn-Dehli, Jose Antonio Reyes, Benoit Tremoulinas and Marco Andreolli.

This sets the tactical matchup as an intriguing one, with key battles to take place across the park—from Nathaniel Clyne’s efforts to stymie Yevhen Konoplyanka, to Timothee Kolodziejczak’s battle to deal with the movement and pressing ability of Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino.

But the standout battle is poised to come in Emre Can’s attempts to dominate Sevilla‘s key playmaker: their No. 19, Ever Banega.

Can has enjoyed a remarkable rise in the Liverpool midfield under Klopp, as he explained in interview with the Telegraph‘s Sam Wallace in the build-up to the Reds’ trip to Basel.

“I learned a lot from [Klopp] and I am very happy at Liverpool. I feel very comfortable. I play that position I want to play. I feel at home in that position,” he said. “I know that I can improve a lot more and I try to improve everything. I think I made a step forward since the manager came.”

His “home” is in a surging, box-to-box role at the heart of Klopp‘s 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 setup, pairing his defensive nous with his rampaging attacking instincts, driven by a relentless energy and keen tactical mind.

Can is arguably the most important player in Klopp‘s system at Liverpool, shown as he returned from an ankle injury to step into midfield and shine throughout their 3-0 semi-final second-leg win at home to Villarreal.

That evening, Can made four successful tackles, four interceptions and three successful dribbles, touching the ball 85 times—each equal to or more than any other player on the pitch—underlining his efficiency in an all-round role.

“Can’s presence allowed [James] Milner to have one of his best games for the club, and also provided good protection for the centre backs,” This is Anfield’s James Nalton enthused after that victory, and it is this latter quality that could prove pivotal as Liverpool push for their ninth major European title.

After a tumultuous time off the field during his five years with Valencia, Banega opted for a cathartic loan spell with Newell’s Old Boys in the last six months of 2013/14, before making the move to Seville, arriving a changed man.

Installed in a key role in Emery’s Sevilla midfield, Banega has established himself as one of Europe’s finest creative talents, somehow escaping the attention that comes with such high-level output.

In terms of guile, finesse and his nimble frame, Banega could be compared to Reds attacking midfielder Adam Lallana, but the Argentinian boasts a more refined edge, and a vision that has seen him installed as Emery’s primary playmaker.

This season, Banega has averaged more key passes per 90 league minutes (2.3) than all but one Liverpool player to make over 10 appearances, with James Milner (2.4) serving as Klopp‘s most efficient creator.

Ahead of the summer transfer window, Banega has been linked with a move to Inter Milan, with the Serie A side’s manager Roberto Mancini describing the 27-year-old as “top quality, skilful and experienced,” in a press conference in April, per FourFourTwo.

Lithe, quick-minded and a supremely gifted technical talent, Banega will pull the strings in Emery’s 4-2-3-1 at St. Jakob-Park, looking to thread passes through for the likes of Konoplyanka, Vitolo and star striker Kevin Gameiro.

But with the midfielder lining up directly ahead of Can in the midfield on Wednesday night, who will triumph?

Can has the physical edge, standing at 6’1″ compared to Banega‘s 5’9″, and should be able to muscle the Sevilla man off the ball with ease, having spent the campaign dominating more imposing adversaries.

When on top form, Can is able to preside over a midfield landscape alone, as he proved against Villarreal at Anfield, allowing Milner to push forward from his position in Klopp‘s two-man engine room, breaking up play and moving the ball into attack quickly.

If the German is in a similar mood on Wednesday night, he will be difficult to stop, but Banega arguably boasts the mental advantage, and given his experience at five years Can’s senior, he won’t be lining up against an unknown quantity.

Given the disparity in refereeing leniency when making the step from the Premier League to the Europa League, Banega may be given more protection than his counterparts in the English top flight.

This puts the onus on Can to adapt his game, utilising his tactical intelligence over his physicality.

It could prove a landmark performance from Klopp‘s key 22-year-old, as if he is able to best Banega, showcasing his all-round quality and adding a polished sheen to his bullish midfield play, he could be the man that seals Europa League glory for the Reds.

Statistics via WhoScored.com.

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Chelsea target Gonzalo Higuain reportedly wants his buyout clause to be significantly reduced from £72 million to £47 million, which could open the door for the Blues to make a move. 

According to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t the Sun‘s Lee Astley), the Argentinian would like £25 million knocked off his release clause, “making a move away from Italy even more likely.” Further, he is said to have been made a “top target” for incoming Blues boss Antonio Conte.

Such a reduction would indeed come in handy, and the 28-year-old is likely to have a wealth of suitors this summer after an incredible campaign for the Partenopei, the details of which were revealed by journalists James Horncastle and Matteo Bonetti:

Bleacher Report UK’s Adam Digby also reflected on his astounding achievement:

Chelsea managed 59 goals in the Premier League this season—a respectable total given their struggles for much of the campaign—but with a dearth of quality options up front besides Diego Costa, further firepower is needed.

According to Squawka, while he only produced two assists in Serie A Higuain actually created a total of 51 chances, so his team-mates will also have plenty to feed off should he arrive at Stamford Bridge.

Napoli will undoubtedly be desperate to keep him, though, so they may be unwilling to acquiesce to his demands.

If they do, Chelsea will still face significant competition for his signature as Arsenal and Manchester United are also interested, according to Astley.

Meanwhile, the Blues—and a whole host of elite European clubs—will reportedly have to compete with Paris Saint-Germain to land Inter Milan goalkeeper Samir Handanovic. According to Claudio Colla of TransferMarketWeb, Les Parisiens could be set to use Salvatore Sirigu as a makeweight in order to capture the Slovenian.

The 31-year-old has established himself among Serie A’s best in recent years, and as GianlucaDiMarzio.com’s David Amoyal noted, he’s a vital player at Inter:

However, Bleacher Report UK’s Jonathan Johnson believes PSG have little need for him:

Indeed, neither do Chelsea as long as they keep Thibaut Courtois, but should the Belgian depart he’d make a strong replacement.

Offering up a solid ‘keeper in exchange would go a long way to getting Inter to accept the deal, so PSG would likely place themselves at the front of the race to land him if they did so.

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