Milan and Inter battle for Thuram and Frattesi

Marcus Thuram will not join PSG, but Inter are reportedly now battling Milan for his signature, just as they are fighting for Sassuolo midfielder Davide Frattesi.

L’Equipe reported today that Thuram finally gave Paris Saint-Germain his response to a lucrative offer, informing the directors that he will not be signing for them as a free agent once his Borussia Monchengladbach contract expires.

It was therefore assumed that the path was clear for Milan to clinch a deal, but that might not necessarily be the case. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport and Sportitalia, Inter have dived back in for Thuram and can count on the fact they had already been close to his signature back in the January transfer window, before an injury scuppered the move.

This is part of an increasingly ugly Derby della Madonnina on the transfer market, because it is seen as a reaction to Milan pushing past their rivals to become the favourites for Sassuolo midfielder Frattesi. The Rossoneri are raising those funds thanks to the sale of Sandro Tonali to Newcastle United for €70m plus €5m bonuses and a percentage of the sell-on fee. Inter were also seemingly irritated at reports Milan had approached Romelu Lukaku, who is trying to secure an extension of his loan from Chelsea.