Inter favourites to retain Serie A title with rivals under new management

Aug 18 : Italy’s Serie A is preparing to kick off on August 22 with the Scudetto race more open than in recent years as champions Inter Milan face a sweeping generational change.

While Inter on paper look like the favourites to retain their Scudetto trophy, Cristian Chivu’s side are changing the old guard for a team built on new foundations. 

The club has parted ways with keeper Yann Sommer and veteran Ivan Provedel has arrived from Lazio and will likely begin the season as back-up for Josep Martinez. New signings John Stones, 32, and Manuel Akanji, who played together at Manchester City, along with Djed Spence, are set to anchor the defence.

The 31-year-old Swiss Akanji has joined permanently after a spell on loan last term and will welcome the arrival of England internationals Stones and Spence, helping to offset the departures of Denzel Dumfries to Real Madrid and Stefan de Vrij to Panathinaikos.

Up front, Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram will again lead an attack that drove Inter to a Serie A and Coppa Italia double. 

However, Chivu is well aware that Inter won a lacklustre title race through stability and delivering when it counted.

Napoli and AC Milan suffered mid-season drops in form, giving Inter the breathing space to rotate their squad and secure the two trophies but this season could be much tougher.

MILAN RESET

While Inter appear to have squad changes under control with solid replacements, the situation is more chaotic at Milan.

Following a late-season collapse, head coach Massimiliano Allegri was sacked after a disappointing campaign. Former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has taken the reins, promising a much more aggressive style of play.

That ambition has been backed up by the signing of striker Goncalo