The spectrum of another negative season hangs over Inter Milan. Thursday’s elimination from the Europa League has affected two or three of the clubs players, who want the chance to compete in competitions more prestigious. One of these names is goalkeeper Samir Handanovic; the 32-year-old has always been vocal about his need to play Champions League football and with his future a constant source of speculation, the failure to achieve a top-three finish this season may be the que for him to finally leave the club.
 

33-years-old next June, the Slovenian number one knows time is running out and despite a contract that doesn’t expire until 2019, Handanovic, who was convinced to stay at the club due to the promise of new cash injection from The Suning Group, remains frustrated at the fact that he’s missing out on Europe’s premier club competition.  

Inter meanwhile, have already earmarked potential replacements should they lose Handanovic; in recent months Barcelona’s Ter Stegen was a primary target before Claudio Bravo left for Manchester City and left him the number one spot at the Camp Nou. Now reports suggest that Genoa shot-stopper Mattia Perin is high on the priority list despite recent claims that he is happy with life in the port city. Alternatives remain Bernd Leno (Bayer Leverkusen) and Kevin Trapp, whose place at PSG has been taken by Areola at the French champions.


Steve Mitchell @barafundler