Inter have renewed their interest in Moussa Diaby as they look to replace Denzel Dumfries, but face strong competition from Bayer Leverkusen for the Al-Ittihad winger.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Diaby is Inter’s preferred option to fill the vacancy created by Dumfries’ move to Real Madrid. The France international would offer a more attacking profile, matching the requirements outlined by Cristian Chivu after Inter’s friendly against Manchester City.
Diaby is also considered an option Inter can pursue without first having to sell a player, making the 26-year-old a particularly attractive target for the Nerazzurri.
However, Leverkusen are increasingly determined to bring back the winger, who spent four successful seasons with the Bundesliga club between 2019 and 2023. Reports in Germany suggest Leverkusen are making progress towards an agreement and are intensifying their efforts to complete the deal.
Inter’s negotiations would take place directly with Al-Ittihad. Sporting director Piero Ausilio has reportedly included Kristjan Asllani in a proposed package, alongside a cash payment, with the overall value understood to be about €30m.
That offer has not yet resulted in an agreement. Leverkusen, in contrast, are understood to be proposing a cash-only deal for Diaby.
The expectation is that the first club to reach an agreement with the Saudi Arabian side will secure the player. Diaby is reportedly open to both possibilities: returning to Germany or moving to Italy.
The winger previously had a brief spell in Italy with Crotone in 2018, before establishing himself at Leverkusen. During his time in Germany from 2019 to 2023, he became one of the club’s leading attacking players before moving on.
Inter are also keeping an alternative target in reserve should their pursuit of Diaby fail. Juventus winger Nico Gonzalez has been offered to the Italian champions for a second time in recent months.
The possibility of a move for Gonzalez could become more significant later in the transfer window. His arrival could potentially help Inter address two issues at once by providing cover in the wide position while also contributing to a resolution of the situation involving Davide Frattesi.
Inter are expected to return from Australia before the next stage of their transfer planning, with the Frattesi impasse still awaiting a solution. Gonzalez could therefore become a more practical option if the club cannot reach an agreement with Al-Ittihad for Diaby.
For now, Inter’s primary focus remains on Diaby, although Leverkusen’s renewed push means the Italian club must move quickly if they are to win the race for the winger.
