Inter Milan targets Anan Khalaili in latest transfer move

Inter Milan have inserted themselves into the race for Anan Khalaili, the 21-year-old Israeli winger whose stock has been rising steadily at Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise. The move comes after Napoli’s talks with USG hit a wall over the transfer fee, giving Inter the kind of opening that top clubs rarely let pass.

Khalaili’s price tag sits somewhere between €20 million and €25 million including bonuses. For a player USG bought just last summer for €7.5 million, that represents a potential return that would make even the most aggressive hedge fund managers nod approvingly.

From Maccabi Haifa to Milan’s radar in 12 months

Born on September 3, 2004, he moved from Maccabi Haifa to Union Saint-Gilloise in July 2024 for €7.5 million. That fee made him the most expensive Israeli player at the time of the transfer. His current market valuation of €23 million means USG’s investment has roughly tripled in value in under a year.

He faced the Nerazzurri in last season’s Champions League while wearing a USG shirt. Inter’s scouts got a front-row seat to evaluate his abilities against elite competition, and apparently they liked what they saw enough to make him a primary target for their right flank.

Transfer interest from Inter was first reported by journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.

Why Napoli’s loss could be Inter’s gain

Napoli weren’t just casually browsing. They had reportedly agreed personal terms with Khalaili amounting to €1.5 million per year on a five-year deal. The holdup was entirely between the two clubs.

USG’s asking price of €20 to €25 million proved to be the sticking point. Inter Milan have been looking to strengthen their attacking options on the right side, and Khalaili fits the profile of what they need: young, proven in European competition, and still with significant upside.

For USG, if they can extract something close to their asking price, they’ll have turned a €7.5 million investment into a deal worth potentially more than three times that amount in a single season.

The risk for Inter is that they’re entering a negotiation where the selling club has already demonstrated willingness to walk away from a deal. USG held firm against Napoli, and having multiple suitors strengthens USG’s hand considerably.

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