Which players do Inter need to sign in January?

With 2026 finally upon us, so too is the January transfer window. For league leaders Inter, January provides a valuable opportunity to strengthen their side and present head coach Cristian Chivu with all the talent he needs to see out the second half of the season.

The doors at Appiano Gentile are expected to be quite busy over the next year, with a lot of personnel changes expected – some in January and others in the summer.

What do Inter need in January?

Perhaps easier to work our way backwards from what the Nerazzurri do not need to sign in January.

With four impressive strikers on their books, it is pretty safe to say that Inter will not be looking for a new number nine in January. The current cast, of reliable first-teamers Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram, and youngsters Francesco Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny, is more or less the optimal set-up to have and Chivu is fortunate to have such a pool to select from.

The same cannot quite be said for other areas of the pitch.

Centre-back: short-term reliability, long-term planning

Inter’s defence remains one of the most experienced in Serie A, but also one of the oldest.

Francesco Acerbi and Stefan de Vrij continue to offer reliability, leadership and tactical intelligence, yet the physical demands of a long season across multiple competitions inevitably raise questions.

Acerbi, now firmly into his late thirties, has been carefully managed, while De Vrij has shown occasional signs of wear. Neither can realistically be expected to shoulder the burden of a full campaign indefinitely.

Alessandro Bastoni remains the defensive cornerstone, but Inter are conscious that one injury or dip in form could leave them dangerously short of athletic depth.

For this reason, a centre-back addition is firmly on the club’s radar. The dilemma lies in timing. Inter could move in January for a rotational option, but the club may prefer to wait until summer to make a more strategic, long-term investment.

Among the names linked, Ibrahima Konaté represents the archetype of the defender Inter would ideally want: young, physically dominant and comfortable in a high defensive line. However, a January move of that magnitude would be complex and financially demanding.

More realistic in the short term is Tarik Muharemović, a profile Inter have monitored closely. The Bosnian-born defender offers versatility and developmental upside, fitting the club’s recent preference for players who can grow into the system rather than arrive as finished products. Whether Inter act now or delay until summer will depend on how long Acerbi and De Vrij can continue to perform at their current level.

Midfield: managing age, minutes and uncertainty

If defence presents a question of depth, midfield poses a question of evolution.

Inter’s engine room remains rich in quality and experience, but the core figures are all on the wrong side of 30. Henrikh Mkhitaryan continues to deliver intelligence and balance, while Hakan Çalhanoğlu remains central to build-up play and set-piece dominance. Yet neither can be expected to sustain peak performance indefinitely.

Çalhanoğlu’s situation is particularly delicate. The Turkish international has once again been linked with interest from abroad, and while Inter have no urgent desire to sell, the club are conscious that his value may never be higher. A sale would not be imminent unless an exceptional offer arrives, but contingency planning is essential.

This is where Davide Frattesi’s situation becomes relevant. The former Sassuolo midfielder has yet to fully establish himself under Cristian Chivu, and his future remains uncertain. Should Frattesi depart, potentially as early as January, Inter would almost certainly need to reinforce midfield immediately, even if only with a temporary solution.

Inter’s preference is clear: they would like a midfielder capable of contributing now while also offering legs, intensity and pressing ability that complements the existing technical profiles. Whether that addition arrives in January or is deferred to summer will hinge on outgoing deals as much as tactical necessity.

Wing-back: the most urgent January need?

If there is one position where January intervention feels most plausible, it is wing-back.

Denzel Dumfries’ ongoing injury issues have exposed a lack of reliable cover on the right flank. Inter’s system relies heavily on width, energy and repetition in wide areas, and the absence of Dumfries has forced tactical compromises.

While Matteo Darmian has been a trusted option in the past, he is not getting any younger. Over a congested second half of the season, that limitation could become costly.

As a result, Inter have been linked with Marco Palestra, a player who fits the club’s preference for young, dynamic profiles capable of operating on both flanks. Palestra’s athleticism, work rate and ability to play in both phases make him an attractive depth option rather than a disruptive starter.

A deal of this nature would make sense in January: relatively low-risk, immediately useful, and aligned with long-term squad renewal. Unlike centre-back or midfield, where Inter may prefer patience, wing-back depth is something Chivu could genuinely need sooner rather than later.

January or summer: calculated patience

Inter’s broader strategy suggests restraint rather than revolution. The Nerazzurri are not under pressure to overhaul a squad that currently leads the league, but they are acutely aware of the risks posed by age, injuries and fixture congestion.

January, therefore, is likely to be about precision rather than volume. One or two targeted additions, particularly if facilitated by outgoing sales, would allow Inter to protect their title push without compromising financial stability.

Summer, by contrast, looms as the window for more profound change. That is when decisions on Acerbi, De Vrij, Mkhitaryan and possibly Çalhanoğlu will need to be addressed decisively, shaping the next phase of the project under Chivu.

For now, Inter’s focus remains on navigating the present. But behind the scenes, planning for the future is already well underway, and January may offer the first small glimpse of what that future looks like.