Inter Milan Must Invest in January

Heading into the winter break in Italy, Inter Milan are already 15 points adrift of leaders Juventus in the Serie A table. Stefano Pioli’s side have a lot of work to do if they are to qualify into the Champions League next season.

One of the biggest priorities for the club next month, once the January transfer window opens, is to make sure they retain the services of Mauro Icardi. The 23-year-old striker has been the one bright spark this season where he has scored 14 goals so far in the 2016/17 campaign.

Inter are now 8/1 with bet365 for a top three finish at the end of the season. They have won their last two fixtures in Serie A as they beat Genoa 2-0 at the San Siro, while seven days later they were successful away from home as they defeated Sassuolo 1-0.

Pioli will be hoping to add some quality to his squad in January and here are three players who could be on his shortlist.

Yaya Toure
Inter’s chief target next month is thought to be Manchester City’s Yaya Toure. The former African Footballer of the Year was frozen out of the first-term earlier in the season with the English club by manager Pep Guardiola due to a fallout.

Toure has though recently returned to the starting XI for City where he has impressed, including in his side’s 2-1 victory over Arsenal.

The former Barcelona midfielder’s contract is up at the end of this season and there does not look to be any sign of the two parties sitting together. This could allow Inter to pick the player up in January for a minimal fee.

Toure has been linked with Inter a number of times in his career and he may now see it as the perfect opportunity to move to Italy. If Pioli can get the best out of the 33-year-old, he will have one of the best midfielders in Europe.

Mario Balotelli
When Mario Balotelli left Liverpool in the summer, his career was on the dip. He joined French outfit Nice in Ligue One as they were one of the few clubs who were prepared to take a chance on the Italian.

Balotelli has helped inspire his side to the top of the standings in France. He has scored six goals in his seven league games this season as he appears to be finding his best form again.

It was with Inter in 2007 that the Italy international made a name for himself. Although he would still be deemed as a risk, if Pioli can sign him and Balotelli keeps up his goalscoring run, he could help them reach the top three in the standings this season.

Frank Lampard
Former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard left New York City FC last month as his two-year contract with the MLS club came to an end.

At the age of 38, the Englishman is no longer at his best, however, on a free transfer he may just add some much-needed cover and quality to the midfield over the next six months.

Inter May Struggle to Attract Quality
The biggest problem Pioli may have next month is persuade top-class talent to join his squad. Without any Champions League football and things looking bleak for European action next season, it could prove to be a hard sell.