Inter Milan are confident of reaching an agreement with Arsenal and Chelsea target Ricardo Rodriguez, according to reports
According to Tuttosport, the Nerazzurri‘s representatives met with Ricardo Rodriguez’s entourage on Monday and after a productive meeting were said to be confident of sealing a deal with Wolfsburg for the Swiss international.
They claim that Rodriguez has a release clause worth €22 million and that Inter were prepared to match it, but are attempting to bargain with Wolfsburg in order to get them to reduce their asking price to €18 million.
They also state that Inter have already tabled an offer of €15 million that Wolfsburg have rejected but that the Nerazzuri are aware this is only the first step to reaching an agreement and that the Serie A side are confident of reaching a deal.
Tuttosport claim that Rodriguez has already made up his mind to leave Germany at the end of the season and is confident that he will be wearing the Black and Blue Jersey of Inter Milan next season.
Inter will be further boosted by the fact that Rodriguez has not signed a new contract with Wolfsburg despite reportedly being offered one, and with the Swiss left-back only having a contract that runs until 2019, Inter could use that fact against Die Wolfe.
Rodriguez – who joined Wolfsburg for a fee of €8.8 million from Zurich back in 2012 – has been one of Wolfsburg’s most consistent performers over the last few seasons and has popped up on the radar of a number of top clubs as a result.
He has made 17 appearances in the league this season and has picked up 2 goals and 2 assists. A well-rounded left-back, Rodriguez has been creating 1.05 chances and making 0.93 key passes per 90 minutes, according to Squawka.
He has also been making 1.23 tackles, 0.56 blocks, 1.67 interceptions and 2.84 clearances per 90 minutes, which shows how involved he is on both sides of the pitch. The Swiss international is also something of a dead ball expert, and regularly takes corners and free-kicks for Wolfsburg.
Arsenal and Chelsea have been linked with the left-back for some time now and it was reported in January that Chelsea were set to pip Arsenal to his signature as they plotted a €24.5 million bid for the Wolfsburg defender.
However, Rodriguez ended up staying with Die Wolfe and it appears that Arsenal and Chelsea are both set to lose out on his signature. Rodriguez would certainly have been a good fit at both London sides and Inter will only stand to benefit from their reluctance to move for the Swiss international.
If Tuttosport are to be believed, Inter are firm favourites to sign the 24-year old and he will definitely be an asset to their side. It seems unlikely that Inter will spend too much time haggling about the price as well, given the more substantial resources they now have with the backing of Suning.
