Plenty of work is required for Inter Milan to become a strong Serie A and European contender once more, with some glaring holes in the squad needing to be patched up.
With just two games remaining in the campaign and Europa League qualification confirmed, Roberto Mancini can now focus on how best to tackle next season.
Matches against 11th place Empoli at the San Siro and sixth place Sassuolo at the Mapei Stadium may serve as experimentation projects for the 51-year-old. New tactics and formulas may be tested and fringe players may be given opportunities.
In saying this, however, the former Manchester City boss should be well aware of what areas need strengthening prior to the 2016-17 season, as well as who he wants to move on. Following a campaign of ups and downs – mainly downs after a positive start – Mancini’s assessment of the squad should enforce him to embark on a minor recruitment bout.
Although some of the coach’s tactical decisions may have hindered the Nerazzurri throughout the current campaign, having a certain amount of extra quality in specific positions would have aided Inter’s top three plight. Here are those positions Mancini and those heading Inter Milan’s transfer negotiations should consider enhancing.
POPULAR ARTICLES
Five matches that epitomised Villarreal’s La Liga season [VIDEO]
UCL – What We Learned – Real Madrid 1 Manchester City 0
Twitter reacts to Liverpool’s Europa League semi-final win against Villarreal
Fullback
All season the Italian manager has chopped and changed at fullback, originally beginning with Davide Santon and Juan Jesus on either side of the defence. Others have been withdrawn and installed from and to the starting lineup since then, and the tactical inconsistencies have definitely hurt the side in 2015-16.
Danilo D’Ambrosio and Yuto Nagatomo are now the regular starters in these roles, though many would argue they are not of sufficient quality to take Inter forward, despite impressing as of late. There is plenty of depth in these positions – with Nagatomo and Alex Telles (assuming the club retains him) on the left and D’Ambrosio and Santon on the right – though superior personnel is required.
Whether or not Inter need a new left-back heading into the new season depends solely on what Mancini does with Telles. If the loan is made permanent they will not need a new player in this role. It is not as simple as that though, as the boss does not appear to rate the Brazilian, even following multiple impressive showings this campaign.
Regardless of the situation, Inter should look for a new right-back. Santon and D’Ambrosio are of decent quality, though lack consistency. Santon in particluar, while good enough for a regular starting berth, is highly injury prone.
For a side boasting the third best defence in Serie A this season, one or possibly two reinforcements are required to that back-four.
Central-midfield
Allowing Mateo Kovacic to leave for Real Madrid was a key moment in Inter’s season and in Mancini’s current reign.
The midfield maestro was the side’s chief creator during his time at the club, pulling the strings in midfield expertly, and at just 21 had plenty of room to flourish and develop into a world class star. Not only that, but the Croatian was Inter’s only true playmaker, with Marcelo Brozovic not as proficient in this role as of yet.
The aforementioned Brozovic has had a very good season by all means, and was even touted by his coach as Inter’s most improved player this season, though he does not have the same productivity and quality on the ball as the now the now departed Koavic.
Although Brozovic has really stepped up in recent weeks – and is now second in Inter’s rankings for chances created with 46 – another figure is needed in that midfield to allow the 23-year-old to venture further forward where he can have more of an impact on games. As well as that, if Brozovic gets injured, then there is no creative presence at all in midfield.
Inter Milan lack a true playmaker in the middle of the park. Someone to feed Mauro Icardi so he can have another season as Serie A’s Capocannoniere. For much of the campaign, their midfield play has been stale and lacking fluidity, and an injection of ingenuity is essential to the side achieving more.
Wings
Much like at fullback, Mancini does not seem certain with what he possesses on the wings.
The only regular this season on the flanks has been Ivan Perišic – who has come into his own in the previous months – and some have been shoehorned out of position in order to feature out wide. Adem Ljajic and Jonathan Biabiany (the side’s only other recognised wingers) have appeared there, as have Stevan Jovetic, Rodrigo Palacio and Brozovic.
The wide positions have become vital ones under Mancini in recent times, with the side adopting a style of play based on width, though his side lacks strength in depth out wide. With Europa League football also on the agenda for Inter Milan next season, additional numbers are required.
Much like Telles at left-back, some of Inter’s potential transfer business involving wide players depends on Mancini’s decision over whether or not to retain Ljajic once his loan spell expires. Strangely enough, the Italian manager also does not seem to rate the Serb, who was restricted to just 16 league starts this campaign, despite him being one of Inter’s best players.
In those 16 starts, the 24-year-old tops the aforementioned rankings for chances created with 56, and is a constant bright spark for the Nerazzurri who links extremely well with teammates. It remains to be seen whether or not Inter retain Ljajic’s services, but either way they need to acquire at least one more winger before the new season.
With improvements made in the fullback, central midfield and wide positions, Mancini may boast a side capable of launching an assault on Serie A’s top three in 2016-17. The Italian’s and Inter’s recruitment record has been a bit hit and miss in recent years, though, and the upcoming transfer window surrounding the San Siro will be an intriguing space to watch.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
