Inter Milan are reportedly in pole position to land Southampton striker Dani Osvaldo after Juventus decided to pull out of the running.
According to Italian source Tutto Mercato Web the towering targetman, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Juve, is no longer a target for the Turin giants.
The surprise departure of head coach Antonio Conte, who resigned last week just a day after the start of pre-season training, has led to a re-think on transfer strategy.
While Conte was a big fan of Osvaldo, his successor Massimiliano Allegri much prefers the prospect of luring Chelsea hitman Romelu Lukaku to Italy and has demonstrated little interest in arranging a second stint for the Saints man.
The 28-year-old is widely-expected to depart St Mary’s during the summer transfer window after a fall-out with the club led to his sudden departure at the start of this year.
Osvaldo was ushered out of the exit door after becoming embroiled in a training ground bust-up with team-mate Jose Fonte, and his future are the club appears to be bleak.
He notched only three goals in his five-month stint in Turin, with only one of his strikes coming in the league, but his record has not put off Inter boss Walter Mazzarri.