Inter Set To Beat Liverpool To Centre-Back Signing
Inter are set to land a highly-rated Croatian centre-back who is also wanted by Liverpool.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Updated on 12 December 2025
Inter are reportedly on the verge of beating Liverpool to the signing of highly-rated Hajduk Split defender Branimir Mlacic.
Inter set to sign Branimir Mlacic ahead of Liverpool months after Giovanni Leoni transfer blow
The Nerazzurri are reportedly close to an agreement with Hajduk for the 18-year-old centre-back, and could wrap the deal up in January.
Italian outlet Tuttosport has reported that Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio has accelerated talks for Mlacic in recent weeks to avoid a bidding war.
Liverpool and Marseille are among the clubs also tracking Mlacic, while Real Madrid have also been linked with the Croatian.
Sport Witness add that a meeting in Milan between Inter and the player’s entourage proved decisive in pushing the move towards completion.
The fee for Mlacic is expected to come in at around €5million.
The deal represents a measure of revenge for Inter, who lost out to Liverpool in the pursuit of Giovanni Leoni over the summer.
Inter were keen on Leoni from Parma, but the Anfield side ended up signing the Italian youngster instead.
Inter see Mlacic as part of a defensive refresh ahead of likely exits for veterans Francesco Acerbi, Stefan de Vrij and Matteo Darmian at the end of the season.
If, as expected, Inter finalise the deal in January, the Nerazzurri must decide whether to loan him back to Hajduk until June or place him in their youth setup.
Inter are reportedly also likely to sign Manuel Akanji permanently from Manchester City over the coming months.
He has done so well that Paul Ince admitted he couldn’t believe Man City opted to move Akanji on.
Who is Branimir Mlacic?
Mlacic is a 6ft 4in tall, right-footed centre-back who has broken into Hajduk’s first team this season.
The teenager has been starting regularly in the Croatian top flight and has featured in the UEFA Conference League.
Mlacic also debuted for Croatia’s U21s in November, underlining his rapid rise through the national-team ranks.
He is a viewed as a no-nonsense, physically dominant defender. He is strong in duels and aerial battles, with a profile suited to the heart of a back three.
For Inter, Mlacic represents a relatively low-cost bet on a modern, athletic centre-back they hope can become a star.
If the deal goes through, it will mark a transfer win over Liverpool in a market both clubs take seriously.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte is a sports journalist with over a decade of professional experience in the industry. His main professional expertise is in soccer. Prior to joining FootItalia, he worked for the likes of Sports Mole, TBR Football, the Chelsea Chronicle and numerous other sites, along with having bylines in the likes of the Nottingham Post. He holds degrees in Journalism and International Relations.
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