While Christmas may fall in December, Inter fans will be hoping that the presents keep coming in January and despite the winter transfer window not having the volume of transfers of its summer counter part, a couple of astute signings can have a huge impact for any team.
After a disastrous beginning to the season Inter have turned things around with six wins from their last seven games and sit in fifth on the league table, and although not playing quality football, they are again accumulating points.
This has been mainly due to Coach Claudio Ranieri’s ability to settle the team and his decision to adjust his formation to a 4-4-2. Whether this is the best formation for Inter into the futureis debatable however, it should strongly be taken into account when assessing potential transfer targets in January.
Inter has a long track record of buying players based on reputation or perceived talent and not necessarily players that suit the game plan of the current coach. This is a mistake they cannot afford to make again, especially given the financial pressures the club finds itself under with the impending FFP regulations. With this in mind and with the likely hood that Ranieri will stick to the 4-4-2 for the foreseeable future its worth assessing some possible transfer targets for the Nerazurri.
The first player who would be an excellent addition is Lille’s Belgain winger Eden Hazard. Hazard is already familiar to Inter, having faced off against them in this years Champions League group stage, and Massimo Moratti liked what he saw, commenting at the time as to his fondness for the player. Although Hazard would not come cheap he ticks all the boxes in terms of his attributes. He is young, at just 20 years old and could become a long term player for Inter as well as being talented enough to make an immediate impact. He also possess something that is desperately lacking in the current squad, speed.
Hazards pace and crossing ability would make him ideal for the 4-4-2 currently being used by Inter as he could play wide on either side of the pitch as he is adept with both feet. He is also capable of playing centrally and his excellent technical ability would make him an ideal replacement for Wesley Sneijder if the Dutchmen were to be sold to raise funds.
Another player who has also been linked to Inter and who fits the mold of youth and pace in his position is the Brazilian Under 20 centre-back Juan. With Lucio and Walter Samuel nearing the end of their careers and Andrea Ranocchia still struggling to adapt to a bigger club, the centre of defence is an area that certainly needs attention. While Juan would not provide immediate cover in this area, he could be given the chance to grow in the role as the older players are fazed out. He would also provide pace and the ability to build play from the back, an essential part of modern day football.
Having been heavily linked to many big clubs over the last couple of years, Juan Manuel Vargas may finally be ready to make the move from Fiorentina, and Inter would be the perfect club for the Peruvian. With the ability to play in both the left wing and left back roles Vargas could well be the most important potential signing of the summer for Inter.
Like Hazard he would add pace and width to the team, as well as fitting into a number of formations. The fact that he has a number of years of Serie A experience and is not cup tied in Europe are also important factors. While Inter and Fiorentina are not on the greatest of terms there is a good chance a deal could be reached between the clubs, with the possibility of a player/s moving in the other direction.
Whichever players Inter decide to sign in January it is important that they are signed with a specific role in mind and that they will be players who can have a long tenure with the club. If the right moves are made and the club continues to back Ranieri then their push for third on the table and a birth in next years Champions League are achievable and maybe even the dream of another Scudetto is not out of the question.
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There is no way Moratti will buy Hazard… Vargas would be a tremendous signing.
Regarding Vargas… Do we really need another player who’s approaching 30? I’d say we need to invest in younger players right now. I’d love to see Hazard replace injury-prone Sneijder though.