Italian club Inter Milan aims to sign Portuguese international João Cancelo, the left-back of Saudi club Al-Hilal, during the upcoming winter transfer window to fill the gap left by the injury of Dutch player Denzel Dumfries.

Nerazzurri's interest comes amid the team's need to strengthen the right flank with a player who has experience and technical quality.

Cancelo had decided to leave Al Hilal, wanting to return to Europe and play regularly in order to secure his place with the Portuguese national team in the upcoming World Cup alongside his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo.

Inter is considered one of the most prominent clubs interested in signing him, especially since the player previously shined in Italy during the 2017-2018 season, when he showcased signs of his exceptional talent.

Inter Milan's management is considering completing the deal on a loan basis until the end of next June, in order to cover the current shortage and give the club enough time to plan for the upcoming season. However, the player's high salary remains the biggest obstacle to finalizing the deal at this time.

Cancelo receives an annual net salary of 15 million euros, an amount that exceeds Inter's financial capabilities, even with the possibility of sharing the cost during a six-month loan.

According to La Gazzetta, the success of any negotiations will also depend on Al Hilal's share of the deal, amid interest from other major clubs such as Barcelona and Juventus in acquiring the services of the 31-year-old Portuguese full-back.