With both the Marco Palestra and Anan Khalaili deals having fallen through, Inter are having to start from scratch in their search for a right-back, while also continuing a long-running pursuit of Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones.
Djed Spence is understood to be the frontrunner among the full-back options, though cost remains an obstacle. According to Sky, the 25-year-old, who has previously played in Italy with Genoa, is currently at Tottenham and under contract until 2029, making any deal a potentially expensive one.
Should a move for Spence not materialise, Inter have alternatives lined up, including Feyenoord's Givairo Read and Monaco's Vanderson. Another name familiar to Italian football, Atletico Madrid's Nahuel Molina, is also under consideration, while Strasbourg's Guela Doue and Borussia Dortmund's Julian Ryerson cannot be ruled out either.
On the midfield front, Inter Milan have never abandoned their interest in Jones, a player they also targeted last winter and remain keen on this summer.
According to Sky, contact between the two parties remains live. Inter tabled an offer of around €20m in recent weeks, leaning on the fact that the Liverpool midfielder's contract expires next year, but the English club are said to be holding out for €40m. Inter's hierarchy are hopeful of finding a compromise somewhere between €25m and €30m.
Sporting director Piero Ausilio addressed the situation on 29 June, making clear the gap in valuations remained the main obstacle.
"I've never denied our interest in this player, we tried in January too. I have to be honest though: we like him, he's a player who could certainly bring something extra to our midfield, which is already very strong, but right now there's a significant gap between our valuation and Liverpool's.
"Since he's a Liverpool player, they have every right to ask what they want, but we also have every right to say whether it suits us or not, so right now I'd say it's a very difficult deal to do," Ausilio said.
Both situations underline the wider challenge facing Inter this summer, having already lost out on two right-back targets in quick succession and now working to close the gap with Liverpool over Jones before turning fully to alternatives.
With little more than a month left before the transfer window shuts, Ausilio and the club's recruitment team face a busy stretch trying to resolve both positions without being forced into deals they consider financially irrational.