Premier League giants Liverpool and Manchester City are likely to miss out on Inter Milan goalkeeper Samir Handanovic as the Italian side are set to offer him a new contract
According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, Inter are set to offer the Slovenian a new deal in order to to keep him at the San Siro for the long term. His current contract runs until 2019, but this new deal would extend that by another season whilst also increasing his wages.
The 32-year-old shot stopper was rumoured to be considering a future away from the San Siro, due to the team’s failure to qualify for the Champions League. But he recently confirmed his desire to stay with the club, saying “I’ll stay at Inter, even without the Champions League.”
Inter’s new Chinese owner Jindong Zhang sees Handanovic as an integral part of his plans to build a powerful team and it now seems as if the Slovenian international, currently in his 5th season with the Nerazzurri, has brought into the idea.
This comes as a huge blow to Premier League giants Liverpool and Manchester City, who had both recently made an approach for Handanovic. Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius for the Reds, and Claudio Bravo and Willy Caballero for the Citizens, have all come under a lot of criticism this season.
Liverpool’s summer acquisition Loris Karius from Bundesliga side Mainz 05 for reported £4.7 million transfer fee seemed like a bargain at the time. However, the 23-year-old’s first season in the Premier League hasn’t quite gone according to plan.
He was brought in with the intention of replacing Simon Mignolet, who has been subject to criticism for most of his Liverpool career. But after suffering from an injury early in the season, which was followed by several underwhelming performances, he has found himself second choice to Mignolet.
Claudio Bravo was brought in from Barcelona last summer for a rumoured £17 million. He was brought in at Joe Hart’s expense, who was rather unceremoniously loaned out to Serie side Torino FC. Six months later it would suffice to say that the Chilean’s move has been nothing short of a disaster.
24 appearances later, which included disappointing performances against the like of Leicester City, Everton and Spurs, he has lost his place in the starting XI to the Argentinian Willy Caballero. He has found himself on the bench for the Citizens last 5 games in all competitions.
This won’t necessarily make good reading for the supporters of the English giants who desperately want their clubs to bring in new keepers. Needless to say, both sides are in need of new, top class shot stoppers and it will interesting to see who they target in the summer transfer window.
