Report – Inter Milan To Accelerate Pursuit Of Udinese Center-Back In January | OneFootball

Serie A champions Inter Milan are keen to step up their long-standing pursuit of Udinese defender Jaka Bijol in January.

According to Tuttosport via FCInterNews, Simone Inzaghi’s men are considering a winter swoop for the Slovenia international.

Jaka Bijol has been on Inter’s radar for quite a while now.

Considered among Serie A’s finest center-backs, he has enjoyed a rise to stardom at the Bluenergy Stadium in the past two years.

Indeed, the 25-year-old swapped CSKA Moscow for Udine in the summer of 2022.

Udinese forked out only €4 million to lure him to Italy, tying him down to a five-year contract.

Bijol has become the club’s defensive mainstay, helping them avoid the drop last season.

However, Inter seem determined to deprive the Friulians of Bijol’s services in January.

Inter Milan to Step Up Pursuit Of Udinese Center-Back Jaka Bijol in January

It’s no secret that Beppe Marotta aims to inject fresh blood into Simone Inzaghi’s aging defensive options.

Francesco Acerbi and Stefan de Vrij have been loyal servants to the Nerazzurri.

However, they’re not getting any younger.

Though Inter handed the former a short-term extension earlier this season, De Vrij’s future is still in the balance.

Indeed, the 32-year-old’s deal runs out at the end of the season.

De Vrij recently admitted he’d love to stay at the club.

Despite the player’s hopes of staying at Giuseppe Meazza, the Italian giants have refused to offer him fresh terms.

While the situation could change in the coming months, Inter will more likely pursue younger alternatives in the market.

Bijol is among Marotta’s priorities, with the Nerazzurri considering a swap deal to sign the Slovenian.

They could use Tomas Palacios as a makeweight to sweeten the agreement.

But Inzaghi’s men are reluctant to let the Argentine defender leave on a permanent transfer.

Instead, they’d offer him to Udinese on a six-month loan.