Inter Milan Draw Up Three-Man Defender Shortlist After Missing Out On Joao Cancelo

Inter Milan have identified three alternative targets to Joao Cancelo, according to reports.

Inter Milan Suffer Joao Cancelo Blow

Cancelo is widely expected to join Barcelona imminently after turning down Inter. He had been pushing for a move away from Al-Hilal this month following a falling out with head coach Simone Inzaghi.

Serie A leaders Inter are in the market for a new right-sided wing-back with Denzel Dumfries set to be absent until March, and they quickly opened talks with Cancelo after being alerted to his situation.

They are even understood to have struck a verbal agreement on broad terms. Intriguingly, the proposed deal would have sent one of Francesco Acerbi or Stefan de Vrij to Al-Hilal in a swap.

However, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the Portuguese full-back has opted for Barcelona instead.

The LaLiga heavyweights will pay €4million to take Cancelo on loan until the end of the season, leaving Inter to return to the drawing board.

But the hierarchy at the San Siro have moved quickly to draw up a shortlist of back-up options, and all three names have now been revealed.

🚨💙❤️ BREAKING: João Cancelo to Barcelona, here we go! Deal in place on loan until June.

Exclusive story confirmed as Barça will pay €4m as loan coverage to Al Hilal, as revealed today.

Despite Inter having deal in place with Al Hilal, João only wanted Barcelona. 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/Sy3CRMeIvT

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 5, 2026

Inter Milan’s Three-Man Wing-Back Shortlist

As recently reported by FootItalia, Fiorentina full-back Dodo is a target. The Nerazzurri, though, face stern competition from Napoli, who have already enquired about the defender.

The 27-year-old Brazilian is keen on leaving the stricken club, with the Tuscans mired in the relegation zone.

Inter expressed interest last summer after talks over a renewal stalled, but this did not result in a concrete offer.

According to Tuttosport, Atletico Madrid’s Nahuel Molina is another alternative. The Argentina international has made 13 appearances in LaLiga this season, albeit primarily from the bench, and could move on.

The same publication have also claimed that the club are weighing up sealing a return for Mattia Zanotti.

Despite progressing through Inter’s youth academy, the 22-year-old made just three senior appearances before joining Swiss side Lugano permanently in July 2024, signing a four-year contract.

Inter do hold a sell-on clause, though, making any swoop for Zanotti cheaper than both Dodo and Molina.

Cristian Chivu’s Transfer Dilemma

Conversely, Cristian Chivu may not be backed with the arrival of a new wing-back this month.

With Cancelo having slipped through their fingers, Inter could instead look to batten down the hatches until the end of the season. That would see both Acerbi and De Vrij miss out on a switch to the Middle East.

The two defenders are then expected to leave as free agents.

Chivu may therefore be forced to rely on the underwhelming Luis Henrique, who is being targeted by Besiktas.