​Inter are left to continue their search for an heir to Denzel Dumfries, after Anan Khalaili – for whom they had reached a €25 million agreement with Union SG plus add-ons – failed to clear medicals in Italy. The Olympic Committee, which oversees such clearances, did not authorize him to play in Serie A, and the medicals, typically the final hurdle in a transfer, turned into the decisive obstacle in this case. The issues began surfacing over the weekend as doctors ordered a fresh round of examinations, an unusually proactive step that signaled trouble in the patient, not just a routine check.
Inter president Giuseppe Marotta addressed the matter in a press conference carried by Sky, explaining that the situation is effectively out of the club’s hands. “Khalaili didn’t pass the medicals, as decided by CONI. It’s a force majeure situation we just have to deal with. We had successfully negotiated his acquisition. There are very strict health-related guidelines in Italy,” he said, underscoring the stringent medical and regulatory framework that governs player transfers in the country.
With Khalaili blocked, Inter have quickly found themselves tied to alternative targets as the transfer window spins on. Guéla Doué has emerged as a plausible option as the Khalaili deal began to collapse, though the pursuing club would need to find at least €30 million to secure the midfielder. Fabrizio Romano, citing SOSFanta, notes that Doué’s price tag sits closer to Marco Palestra’s valuation than to the Israeli international, signaling a potentially tighter market for Khalaili’s replacement measures.
In the broader transfer chatter, Christian Chivu offered a creative suggestion during discussions with the press. He proposed turning Andy Diouf into a wing-back, revealing a willingness to pursue unconventional tactical reassignments if the right conditions and education were in place. “I have the crazy idea of turning Andy Diouf into a wing-back, but I would have to be very good at convincing him and teaching him certain things. I like him there, and he has some characteristics we are lacking,” Chivu explained, outlining a potential improvisation to fill the void left by the failed Khalaili move.
This season has been exceptional in its own sense for Inter, but it has also been a reminder of an unlucky summer characterized by setbacks that have slowed momentum. The club’s position relative to rivals remains cushioned by an earlier margin, a cushion that could have vanished had circumstances been different. Diouf has shown promise in the wing-back role, bringing work rate and versatility, yet his ceiling there remains as a backup option if Inter decide to move on from Luis Henrique or pursue a more established fix in the transfer market. The ongoing search for a durable, high-quality replacement for Dumfries continues to shape Inter’s summer strategies, as they weigh medicals, market values, and tactical flexibility in equal measure.