Spalletti heads to China to finalise Inter deal

Luciano Spalletti has travelled to China to finalise terms on an agreement to become the new head coach of Inter.

The 58-year-old left his post at Roma on May 30 after only 16 months in charge at Stadio Olimpico and is poised to be named the permanent successor to Stefano Pioli at San Siro.

Although a deal has not yet been finalised, Spalletti says a provisional agreement is in place and he hopes to bring talks to a satisfactory conclusion soon.

“Everything is in place,” he told the media at Malpensa airport, as he and sporting director Piero Ausilio prepared to fly out to meet Inter’s Suning Group owners.

“We’ve shaken hands; we’re old fashioned and we do things with a handshake.”

Inter’s owners are eager to help restore the club to the level they enjoyed back in 2010, when they won the treble of Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League titles under Jose Mourinho.

Spalletti’s appointment is expected to be followed by significant investment in the playing squad aimed at boosting their chances of challenging for the top three next season.

He is also likely to be tasked with ending the uncertainty around the future of Croatia winger Ivan Perisic, with Manchester United having expressed an interest in a player.