Inter Milan's Midfield Overhaul: Chivu Targets Koné and Jones

Inter Milan’s new cycle under Cristian Chivu is starting in the middle of the pitch. And it could start with a bold double move.

With Davide Frattesi expected to leave in the summer, Inter are exploring a reshaped engine room built around Manu Koné and Curtis Jones, a blend of power and technique drawn from Serie A and the Premier League.

Koné back on Inter’s radar

Koné is the priority.

Tuttosport, via CalcioMercato, reports that Inter have turned again to the Frenchman after failing to land him last August. Back then, Roma held firm. This time, the door might not be quite so tightly shut.

Roma signed Koné from Borussia Mönchengladbach in the summer of 2024 for €18 million plus €2 million in bonuses. Since then he has become a regular presence in the Giallorossi midfield, racking up 81 appearances with four goals and six assists.

He is under contract until June 2029 on a net salary of €2.8 million per season, a long and lucrative deal that underlines his status in the capital. Yet that same contract also gives Roma a lever: a significant sale could help them address financial fair play requirements.

That is where Inter step in.

On Chivu’s recommendation, the Nerazzurri are ready to revive their pursuit with a fresh proposal. The idea on the table is not just a straight cash bid, but a swap that could reshape both squads. Roma could receive Carlos Augusto and/or Frattesi as part of the package, a structure that would ease the financial hit for Inter while giving Roma proven Serie A quality in return.

If that puzzle falls into place, Koné would become the reference point of Chivu’s new-look midfield.

Jones as the second piece

The story does not end with Koné.

Tuttosport also indicates that his arrival would not automatically close the door on a second midfield signing. Inter are weighing up a move for Curtis Jones, who has quietly emerged as a realistic and attractive option.

Jones, under contract at Liverpool until June 2027, earns a reported €500,000 net per season. In the current market, that is a modest wage for a player with Champions League experience, and it makes any potential deal easier to manage from a financial standpoint.

Inter do not view Jones as an alternative to Koné, but as a complement. Where Koné offers energy, physicality and ball-winning presence, Jones brings a different profile: a technically sharp midfielder who can operate between the lines and adapt to various roles across the middle.

The dream of landing Nico Paz has drifted away. The focus has shifted to more attainable, concrete targets. Jones fits that description.

For Chivu, the equation is clear: replace the outgoing Frattesi with not just one, but potentially two midfielders who can change the tempo and texture of Inter’s play. For Inter, the question is whether they can turn this ambitious plan into a market coup before the summer window closes.