Newly crowned Italian Champions, Inter Milan, have set their sights on 17-year-old Royal Antwerp striker, George Osrzehmen Ilenikhena, as they look to overhaul their attack in the summer, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 2010 Treble winners will be without Alexis Sanchez next season as his current deal runs out in June, and are also willing to listen for offers for Marko Arnautović. The Austrian’s contract expires in 2025 and at 35-year-old, a move to America or Saudi Arabia will be profitable for Inter.
The desire of the Nerazzuri board, in agreement with Inzaghi, is to create a futuristic team, adding fresh blood to a winning nucleus.
In anticipation of the exit of two veterans, the three-time UEFA Champions League winners have set their sights on Nigerian teenage sensation, George Ilenikhena.
The 17-year-old has become a regular for Royal Antwerp despite being one of the youngest players in the team. The left-footed striker has had a hand in 15 goals in 48 for the one-time UEFA Cup winners since joining from Amiens SC last summer.
According to Italian outlet, La Gazetta dello Sport, Inter view Ilenikhena as the next Osimhen, considering the striker was born in Lagos, just like the Napoli centre-forward.
Inter were previously linked with the teenage striker, but nothing concrete happened, instead, he joined French Ligue 1 side, Amiens SC.
It is believed that Antwerp will demand around 20 million euros for the services of the wonderkid, but that is considered too much by the 20-time Italian Champions. However, they’re willing to enter into negotiations with the hopes of persuading the club to include future fees in the deal.
Ilenikhena is eligible to represent Nigeria and France as he was born in Lagos, but moved with his parents to Antony when he was three years old, and has made no comments about committing to either national team in the future.