Inter Milan is on the verge of landing one of Serie A’s most impressive defensive arrivals in recent memory. Oumar Solet, the 26-year-old French centre-back who joined Udinese on a free transfer just 18 months ago, is now the subject of advanced negotiations between the two Italian clubs.

The deal is reportedly being structured around a fee in the €20-30 million range, a figure that represents a remarkable return on investment for Udinese, who paid exactly nothing to sign him from RB Salzburg in January 2025.

From free transfer to multi-million euro asset

Solet’s trajectory reads like a masterclass in shrewd recruitment. Udinese picked him up for free when his contract at RB Salzburg expired, and he immediately became a fixture in their backline.

During the 2025/26 Serie A campaign, Solet racked up 35 appearances, scored 3 goals, and added 1 assist. His average rating of approximately 7.2 across those matches tells the story of a defender who was consistently reliable rather than sporadically brilliant.

Inter has reportedly proposed a four-year contract worth approximately €2.5 million per season. The sticking point is the fee between the two clubs. Udinese is reportedly holding firm on a valuation of €25-30 million, which sits at the upper end of the reported negotiation range. The structure being discussed involves a loan with an obligation to buy, a mechanism that allows clubs to spread costs across multiple financial years.

Solet’s path to this point

Born on February 7, 2000, Solet came through the Lyon academy before moving to RB Salzburg, where he made 78 league appearances in the Austrian Bundesliga.

His current contract with Udinese runs until June 2027, with an optional additional year. That gives Udinese some leverage in negotiations, since they’re under no immediate pressure to sell.

Despite his strong club form, Solet has yet to earn a senior cap for France. He has represented Les Bleus at youth level.

What this means for Inter’s defensive planning

A loan with obligation to buy would allow Inter to manage their books in a way that satisfies UEFA’s financial sustainability regulations. Spreading a €25-30 million outlay across multiple windows is significantly more palatable than a single lump sum.

Multiple clubs have reportedly shown interest in Solet as the summer window approaches, but Inter appears to be furthest along in discussions. Whether the final fee lands closer to €20 million or €30 million could depend on the specifics of add-ons, payment schedules, and sell-on clauses.