Asamoah eager to help Inter Milan pip Napoli to Serie A runners-up spot

There is more to Kwadwo Asamoah’s game than simply goals. Who says? Why he does. And it is a good job really. Because he hasn’t been finding the net for Inter Milan with any degree of regularity this season. Not that you would expect the hard-working midfielder to be leading marksman, but a few goals here and there would make a nice contribution to the cause. But he says he is happy with his efforts as the Italian giants chase down Napoli for runners-up spot to Juventus, who are poised to be crowned Serie A champions.

The Nerazzurri look to gain confidence from their last outing, a 1-1 draw at home to Juve, when they go to Udinese — Asamoah’s former side –tomorrow (Saturday) and they could do with a goal or two from Ghana ace.

More important though, it would seem, is his overall contribution — something with which he is content. The versatile midfielder. who is aged 30, explained: “I’m happy with what I’ve done this year. I perhaps could have done more, but at the moment we’ve got a big objective to achieve and there are four games remaining and so the focus should really remain on that.

“It is true that I haven’t been getting on the scoresheet, the way I’m currently playing means I provide more assists because I primarily have to think about defending for the good of the team.”

And as for the clash with Udinese, he added: “It’s always difficult to play against your former team. Udinese are going through a difficult spell, which is why they’ll try to start strongly. We therefore need to be very alert and very ready from the very first minute — they’ll give their all to try to win, of that there can be little doubt.

“We’ve been training well, this is an important match and it would be vital to get a result. There are other sides pushing to get in front and this is the moment when we have to give everything. We have the quality and the players to aim high. We’ve done well against the big sides this year, we need to maintain this ruthlessness and desire to win in all our matches.”

Meanwhile, Milan look set to say farewell to Brazilian defender Dalbert after an unflattering season in Italy — with suitors from France and Germany reportedly keen on his services. If Dalbert is shown the exit at Milan, the club could well go in for Ajax defender Nicolas Tagliafico or even Manchester United full-back Matteo Darmian.

A potential recruit to bolster the midfield is Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The Serbian schemer has long been on the radar and almost made the switch last summer. Now it is being reported that a new mega-bid could be tabled and that Lazio president Claudio Lotito would find the £90million fee too much to ignore.