Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that one-time top Everton target Denzel Dumfries is set to join Inter Milan.
The Italian transfer expert took to Twitter to break the news, offering several key indications – including a direct reference to Everton’s interest.
‘Denzel Dumfries is set to join Inter from PSV Eindhoven’, declared Romano who then confirmed a ‘verbal agreement reached between clubs’.
Twitter: Denzel Dumfries is set to join Inter from PSV Eindhoven, verbal agreement reached between clubs and here-we-go!
… https://t.co/63kfpphWa0 (@FabrizioRomano)
He added his trademark ‘here-we-go’ confirmatory message to the Tweet, declaring that Inter are ‘planning for medical in the next few days’ in order to complete the move for the Dutch international.
The Serie A champions sold their right-back Achraf Hakimi to Paris Saint-Germain in a deal that could rise to £60 million with add-ons included, fending off interest from Chelsea in the process.
Consequentially, replacing him with a new right-back was a priority for Simone Inzaghi’s side.
The deal represented the highest fee ever commanded by Inter for an outgoing player.
The previous record for the most expensive deal for an outgoing Nerazzurri player is Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s transfer to Barcelona in 2009, which commanded a fee of €69.5 million (£58m).
Romano added that Everton are ‘out of the race’, having cooled their interest in recent weeks.
The defender had been previously linked with a move to Goodison Park off the back of some impressive performances for Frank de Boer’s Netherlands team at Euro 2020.
At one stage, ongoing financial problems were believed to be keeping Inter out of the race, but Hakimi’s sale plus the imminent sale of Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea has offered Inter some flexibility in terms of market resources.
Read Everton Verdict
Losing out on Dumfries is a key blow to Everton who seemed firmly intent on pressing ahead with a deal.
Having had a quiet window that to date has cost Everton less than £2 million in fees, fans will hope Rafa Benitez is able to work adequately with limited resources to keep Everton competitive for the new campaign.
