Internazionale interest in Lazio defender Alessandro Nesta appears to be cooling after it emerged that the club had submitted a bid for his team-mate Jaap Stam.
The Milan-based club have been pursuing Nesta throughout the summer but no deal has been forthcoming and with Stam available at approximately half the price of his colleague, Inter coach Hector Cuper feels the Dutchman may represent better value for money.
“Nesta or Stam, there is little difference,’ said Cuper.
“I don’t want to make comparisons, but there would be little difference.”
“Stam played in a three-man defence with Manchester United, and so, if he arrives, I would think about this possible system.
“With him or Nesta, Inter could change.”
Inter are understood to have offered Lazio £20million plus Turkish midfielder Emre Belozoglu but the offer for Stam would come in at closer to £10 million.
Stam, who has been linked with a move to England as Rio Ferdinand’s replacementat Leeds, is clearly eager to stay in Italy.
“I don’t want to go to England,” he said. “I don’t know why I am being considered as the replacement for Ferdinand.
“My experiences in England have been great, but I have no intention to try it again.”
