Instead, Inter Milan are now redirecting their attention towards AS Roma defender Evan Ndicka as a more straightforward alternative.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Inter Milan, who had reached a verbal understanding with Muharemović's camp in April, are unwilling to be drawn into a financially escalating situation that Sassuolo appear to be engineering.
The Italian club are aware that English sides — Tottenham Hotspur in particular are understood to be in pole position — are prepared to spend significantly more than Inter can offer. Sassuolo's valuation is mooted at around €30 million, with the additional complication that Juventus retain a 50 percent sell-on clause from Muharemović's original sale, meaning any fee must be high enough to make economic sense for all parties.
The 23-year-old Bosnian international has a contract running until June 2031, having made his permanent move to Sassuolo for €3 million last summer after his loan season. He contributed two goals and two assists across 32 league appearances this season.
Ndicka, by contrast, offers Inter an easier negotiation. Roma need to raise around €60 million before June 30 to comply with financial sustainability regulations, and the 25-year-old Ivory Coast international has been identified as one of the assets they are prepared to sell. He is contracted until 2028. Inter are one of several clubs interested, alongside Barcelona and Liverpool.
Inter face a significant defensive rebuild regardless of which path they take. Francesco Acerbi and Matteo Darmian are both leaving, Stefan de Vrij's departure appears likely, and defender Yann Bisseck is attracting attention from Bayern Munich.