Stankovic, €40M Temptation and The Curtis Jones Wobble

€40M for Aleksandar Stankovic is the kind of number that makes even the most romantic Interista start speaking fluent “plusvalenza.”

Because the report from Gazzetta dello Sport is clear: Inter haven’t decided his future, he’s back after a strong year in Belgium, and the club’s internal valuation is no less than €40M. Big offers would be “hard to ignore.” That’s corporate-speak for: we’ll ignore it for about 12 minutes.

Stankovic has already been around the club structure again, and the name “Chivu” pops up for a reason. When a coach knows a young player, the decision stops being theoretical and becomes brutal: keep him and commit minutes, or sell him and pretend “pathway” is a real thing.

The sporting case: why keeping him is actually logical

Stankovic isn’t just a legacy surname.

The profile matters: deep-lying midfielder or mezzala. That versatility is gold in a squad that wants to rotate without turning every second match into improvised jazz.

And if the kid’s dream is to make San Siro roar like Dejan did, fine, good. Let’s see if the club dares to build a midfielder, not just monetize one.

The financial case: why €40M makes accountants drool

€40M for a returning loanee is the cleanest type of “profit” you can book.

It’s also the easiest type of decision to regret when you spend the next two years hunting for the same profile at twice the price, from some Premier League bench where he “needs a new challenge.”

(That’s usually where Bilan shop, by the way. We prefer to win trophies first, then suffer later.)

So what’s the decision really about?
It’s not “is he good?” It’s timing.

If Chivu is prepared to give him a real lane - cup starts, specific league minutes, defined role - then keeping him is coherent. If not, selling at €40M is the kind of move that funds two signings and a Marotta grin.

But pick one. Don’t do the Italian classic of “keep him… to loan him again… then sell him cheaper.”

Curtis Jones subplot: the deal wobble risk is real—because Liverpool just changed the entire context

Liverpool hitting the big red “reset” button today with the sacking of Arne Slot has sent shockwaves through more than just Merseyside—it just injected a massive dose of uncertainty into Inter’s pursuit of Curtis Jones.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Nerazzurri were already deep in the trenches for the midfielder, trying to bridge the gap between Liverpool’s €30–35M asking price and Marotta’s €20–25M opening gambit, with a sell-on clause serving as the main sticking point.

While the papers haven’t explicitly printed the word “collapse” yet, the risk is basic mercato math. A managerial vacuum at Anfield changes everything: the new regime might decide to freeze all exits, prioritize squad continuity over immediate cash, or simply harden their stance to avoid looking weak in week one.

Inter hate resets and projects that suddenly grow legs; we prefer files that are 90% closed, and right now, the Curtis Jones file has been left unattended on the desk.

The ForzaIM Verdict

Stankovic at €40M is a crossroads: project player or project profit.

If Inter want to be serious about building from within, this is the exact type you keep. If the club needs a quick capital gain to grease a larger mercato plan, this is the exact type you sell. However, we know Inter have the opportunity to extend his loan with Club Brugge and get him back next season, albeit for a higher fee, €25M.

Meanwhile, Curtis Jones remains a hot track per Gazzetta—but Liverpool’s coaching earthquake is the kind of chaos that can turn “almost” into “see you in August.”

Pazza Inter season hasn’t even started, and my blood pressure is already in preseason.