Inter Backup Hints at Permanence Despite Incoming Bids

Marko Arnautovic got the nod against Udinese in Coppa Italia and bagged his second goal of the season. He had last scored in early October and has played little so far. He’s on the radar of a few minnows who could use a proven center-forward. Still, he alluded that he’d stay put in January.

“I have had a difficult time from a personal standpoint. My teammates and the coach have always pushed me to give everything. I have a contract and love Inter, everybody knows that.”

Arnautovic has been linked to Torino in recent weeks, while Monza and Udinese tested the waters more recently, Corriere della Sera reports. His contract runs out in June, but Inter can’t let him go for nothing, or they’ll record a loss, Calciomercato relays. Per Goal, the Austrian might be excluded from the Champions League list in favor of Joaquin Correa.

His salary will be the main sticking point in the talks. He makes €3.5M annually, so €1.7M from January on, which is burdensome for most small teams.

Giuseppe Marotta suggested that Inter would stand pat in January when asked about the future of Arnautovic (via Mediaset).

“In principle, we’d like to continue with this group that’s proving reliable and ready to deal with the challenges that we need to overcome to reach our goals. If somebody asks out, we’ll listen and evaluate. There’s nothing on the horizon for now. It’s probably true that some of our players are appreciated in England, but we don’t want to sell them, and they want to stay with us. We’re happy with their attachment. We have had a very tight group for a few years.”

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