Inter's Midfield Overhaul: Koné and Jones Targets
Cristian Chivu’s Inter are plotting a bold reshape of their midfield, with Manu Koné and Curtis Jones both on the radar as Davide Frattesi edges towards the exit.
According to reports from Tuttosport, via CalcioMercato, Koné has emerged as Inter’s main target on the domestic market. The Frenchman only arrived at Roma from Borussia Mönchengladbach in the summer of 2024 for €18 million plus €2 million in bonuses, yet his name is already back in the transfer swirl.
Koné has built a solid body of work in the capital: 81 appearances for the Giallorossi, four goals, six assists, and a reputation as a dynamic presence in the middle of the pitch. He is tied to Roma until June 2029 on a net salary of €2.8 million per season, a long and lucrative deal that underlines his status at the club.
But Roma’s accounts are part of the story. In the push to stay on the right side of financial fair play, the club may be prepared to sacrifice a valuable asset if the offer is right.
Inter tried to prise Koné away last August and came up empty-handed. They are ready to go back in, this time armed with Chivu’s clear endorsement and the possibility of a more creative proposal. One scenario on the table would see Roma receive Carlos Augusto and/or Frattesi in exchange, a swap that could tick boxes for both sides as they tune their squads for the summer.
Koné is the headline name. He might not be the only one.
Jones in the frame as Inter adjust to market reality
Even if Koné walks through the doors at Appiano Gentile, that does not close the chapter on another midfield signing. Tuttosport reports that Inter are also weighing a move for Curtis Jones, who has quietly become one of the more intriguing options on the market.
Jones is under contract at Liverpool until June 2027 and earns a net €500,000 per season, a modest wage by elite European standards. From Inter’s perspective, that makes any deal structurally simple: no inflated salary, no financial acrobatics.
The England international is not being lined up as a fallback if Koné slips away. Inside Inter’s planning, Jones is seen as a complementary profile, someone who could slot alongside rather than instead of the Frenchman.
The dream of landing Nico Paz has faded. Reality is pushing Inter towards more attainable, ready-made solutions. Koné and Jones fit that bill: one already hardened by Serie A, the other tested on Champions League nights at San Siro.
If Chivu gets his way, Inter’s midfield will look very different by the time the new season kicks off.
