Slovenia EURO 2024 Star Tops Inter Milan Shortlist As Long Term Replacement For Netherlands & Italy Veterans

Udinese defender Jaka Bijol is Inter Milan’s top target as a long-term replacement for Stefan de Vrij and Francesco Acerbi.

This according to today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews.

One area in which Inter are virtually certain to make a signing next summer is at the centre of defense.

The Nerazzurri did not decide to sign a player for the role this summer. They instead focused on other priorities.

A defender did arrive, in the form of Tomas Palacios. However, the Argentine is a player Inter view as a backup for Alessandro Bastoni on the left of the back three.

In the central role, meanwhile, Inter stuck with what they have. De Vrij and Acerbi will be the two main options for the position this season.

Those two former Lazio defenders have been stalwarts in the role.

However, the fact remains that both well into their thirties now. The Dutchman will be 33 at the end of this season, and the Italian 37.

Jaka Bijol Tops Inter Shortlist Of De Vrij & Acerbi Replacements

Given de Vrij and Acerbi’s age, Inter will want to sign a player who can take their mantle up in the long term.

The profile would have to be similar to that duo.

De Vrij and Acerbi are both tall, physically strong centre-backs. Their strengths are marking physical centre-forwards, winning aerial duels, and taking care of the penalty area.

And there is one player in particular who Inter are big fan of as far as this role.

Bijol is by now a familiar name in Serie A.

The 25-year-old has been proving himself in the Italian top flight with Udinese for a couple seasons now.

As with de Vrij and Acerbi, Bijol has been playing at the centre of a back three. This perfectly suits his physical attributes and defensive awareness.

And Bijol also caught the eye with Slovenia at the Euros this summer. There, he effectively marked big name strikers such as Harry Kane, Aleksandar Mitrovic, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Therefore, it is not too surprising to see Inter’s interest in Bijol emerge.

This summer, other clubs also showed interest in signing the Slovenian. And Inter did not look to anticipate the competition, due to having other priorities.

But Bijol stayed at Udinese in the end.

Therefore, Inter believe that next summer will present another opportunity to lure their top target as a long-term replacement for de Vrij and Acerbi.