Inter Milan Joins Napoli in Race to Sign Israeli Star Anan Khalaily

The Italian transfer window is heating up with Israeli winger Anan Khalaily at the center of intense competition. After reports last weekend indicated Napoli was close to securing Khalaily's transfer, Inter Milan has now aggressively entered the race to sign the 21-year-old from Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise. Inter, the reigning Serie A champions, are urgently seeking a right-wing replacement for Denzel Dumfries, who is expected to join Real Madrid, and have identified Khalaily as their top target.

Inter's sporting director, Piero Ausilio, accelerated negotiations after their initial target, Marco Plestra from Atalanta, chose Chelsea instead. Ausilio, who has monitored Khalaily for some time, views the Israeli's versatility, capable of playing as an attacking winger or as a wing-back in Inter's 3-5-2 system, as a perfect fit. Khalaily impressed last season with 52 appearances across all competitions, scoring six goals (half in the Champions League) and providing five assists, showcasing his ability to break down defenses and create scoring chances.

Union Saint-Gilloise values Khalaily at around 20 million euros including bonuses, a price Inter considers reasonable, allowing them to preserve funds for strengthening goalkeeper and defense positions. Meanwhile, Napoli continues to apply heavy pressure, with their sporting director Giovanni Manna conducting advanced talks. The decision on Khalaily's future is expected soon.

Khalaily's agent, Boaz Goren, emphasized the player's desire to join a project offering significant playing time at a top club. The Italian media also highlights Khalaily's family football legacy, noting his father Majdi's professional goalkeeping career and his younger brother Iyad's affiliation with Bnei Reineh. With interest from Italy's football giants Napoli and Inter, Khalaily is poised to become one of Israel's most prominent football ambassadors in Europe.

Summary: Israeli winger Anan Khalaily is at the center of a transfer battle between Serie A champions Inter Milan and Napoli, both seeking to sign him from Union Saint-Gilloise. Inter aims to replace Denzel Dumfries, while Napoli is pushing hard to finalize the deal. Khalaily's versatility and strong performances have made him a top target, with negotiations expected to conclude soon.