Gazzetta dello Sport: Inter Milan are willing to increase their offer for Spence, and the player himself is willing to join Inter Milan.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Spence's performance in the World Cup semi-final has strengthened Inter Milan's resolve to sign him, but Tottenham will likely raise their asking price to over €35 million. Nevertheless, Inter Milan is prepared to increase their investment.

Amidst the heartbreak at the Atalanta stadium, and while Argentine fans were still immersed in Messi's adoration and national pride, Spence had already made it clear why Inter Milan had decided to set their sights on his dreadlocks. This winger, highly regarded by the Nerazzurri, displayed remarkable English fighting spirit in the World Cup semi-final, a defeat witnessed by the world. His valiant pursuit of Giuliano Simeone remains one of the most memorable moments of the match. When the footage of that sliding tackle went viral online, Inter's management on Veneto Street was not pleased that Spence had become the subject of global discussion. Naturally, there were concerns that his transfer fee would immediately skyrocket, a risk that always exists for players who have reached the world stage. Not to mention, there was the possibility of new, wealthy buyers, especially Tottenham Hotspur in North London.

Regardless, the cost of this transfer will only be confirmed after negotiations between the two clubs. However, Inter Milan's assessment of this move is completely different from what it was a few days ago: they know that ultimately acquiring this winger will require a greater financial commitment than anticipated. Ultimately, they are willing to do so, and they will act quickly. This doesn't mean the negotiations will go smoothly, nor does it mean this is the only option, or even that the deal has entered a deeper stage, but Inter Milan is finally willing to loosen the brakes. On the contrary, the Nerazzurri's initial attitude precisely demonstrates their determination to sign this English player: after failing to find a winger who truly satisfies Chivu and is available on the market for the past few weeks, they have indeed set their sights on Spence. Not the only option, but certainly the top priority.

Raising the investment ceiling means raising the bar for ambition. Inter Milan's current situation is far from insignificant, given their crucial position. The transfer market is still long. Luis Enrique occupied Inter's right flank for four consecutive months last year, but the vacancy in that position is becoming increasingly apparent: after Dumfries successfully completed his career upgrade and joined Mourinho's new "Real Madrid," Inter had staked everything on Palestella, with the outcome being well-known. The alternative, Anan Khalaili, had been finalized in detail, but a cardiac MRI scan altered the Israeli-Arab player's career, and may even have changed his life. Inter Milan had already committed €25 million plus €3 million in bonuses to the San Giroud winger, but that threshold is no longer sufficient. Since shifting their interest to Tottenham, Marotta and Ausilio have known they would have to pay significantly more to the club, which is known for its high-priced transfers—around €10 million more, or even more, as Tottenham would demand at least €35 million. This means Inter would need to approach a Palestra-style investment while adhering to Oaktree Capital's restrictions. Theoretically, this is entirely possible, as Chivu has also agreed, favoring the idea of playing Spence on both wings. Yesterday, before his flight to Germany took off, the Romanian coach reiterated this point to the club's management in a brief routine meeting.

Despite their swift action, Inter Milan cannot truly finalize the deal before the World Cup concludes next week: for the England player, there's still a symbolic third place to fight for. Spence himself is fully open to joining Inter, but both clubs must first engage in serious negotiations with the formidable Tottenham. This is why Inter won't abandon other alternatives: Navel Molina, who outmaneuvered Gordon in Wednesday's World Cup semi-final, is still on Inter's roster. If Strasbourg's expensive Guerra Dué is seen by management as too defensively oriented, then some see a (though far removed) resemblance to the former Hakimi in Monaco's Wanderson.