Moussa Diaby has returned to the centre of the summer transfer discussion after Inter Milan increased their efforts to sign the Al-Ittihad winger before the new season begins.
The Italian club initially offered €40m to buy the France international on a permanent basis. However, Al-Ittihad have yet to decide whether to accept that proposal, prompting Inter Milan to change their negotiating strategy in an attempt to persuade the Saudi club to allow Diaby to leave.
According to Saudi journalist Mohammed Al-Bakiri, Inter Milan have now submitted a new proposal for a season-long loan. The offer is reportedly worth €28m, following Al-Ittihad’s hesitation over agreeing to a permanent transfer in recent days.
Inter Milan believe a temporary move may be more acceptable to Al-Ittihad’s management. The proposed arrangement would provide the Saudi club with a significant financial return while allowing it to reassess Diaby’s situation when the season has finished.
The change in approach comes as Inter Milan continue to seek an agreement in any form before the transfer window closes. The Italian club’s priority remains completing a deal for the winger, despite Al-Ittihad still considering the options available to them.
Diaby, however, is understood to favour a permanent move if he is to leave Al-Ittihad. The player believes settling at a new club would be preferable to joining Inter Milan on loan, only to face uncertainty and potentially return to the same position after one season.
The final decision remains with Al-Ittihad, who are continuing to review Diaby’s future before determining whether to accept Inter Milan’s latest proposal or retain the player. The Saudi club have not yet reached a definitive conclusion on either the permanent sale or the loan arrangement.
Diaby’s name has therefore become prominent again in the summer transfer market, with Inter Milan attempting to find a formula that can satisfy Al-Ittihad while also offering the player a route to a new club. The two sides must still reach an agreement, with the Italian club maintaining its pursuit ahead of the opening of the new campaign.
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