2025 is shaping up to be a huge year for Inter Miami, with the Herons likely to make a big transfer move.
With Inter Miami’s season coming to a disappointing end with an early play-off exit at the hands of Atlanta United, attentions will soon turn to the transfer window, where the Herons could again make a big splash in the market.
Paul Pogba is already linked with a move to Inter Miami with the Herons likely to bring in yet another huge name from Europe if they can free up a Designated Player spot, with Leonardo Campana the most likely option to have their contract brought down.
And here are three players Inter Miami could sign to fill in this Designated Player spot.
Neymar
The biggest name currently linked with a move to Inter Miami is Neymar, with the Brazil international recently buying a $26m property in Florida amid ongoing transfer rumors suggesting the winger will leave Saudi Arabia for MLS.
Although Santos are also chasing Neymar, Inter Miami could be the favorites to secure the attacker’s signature, with the prospect of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez playing alongside their former FC Barcelona teammate a tantalizing one.
With Neymar set to become a free-agent heading into the January transfer window, Inter Miami could already be at work trying to bring the forward to Chase Stadium, where the 32-year-old could reinvent his career after two seasons wasted at Al-Hilal.
Virgil van Dijk
One of the big reasons why the Herons crashed out as early as they did in the play-offs is because of their issues at the back, with Taylor Twellman highlighting Inter Miami’s defensive problems after Tomas Aviles’ antics against Atlanta.
And if Inter Miami were to break the mold and sign a defender as their third Designated Player, the Florida franchise won’t get find anyone better than Virgil van Dijk, who is set to leave Liverpool at the end of the Premier League season.
One of the best central defenders in soccer even at the age of 33, Van Dijk could be convinced to make the move to MLS and Inter Miami if a tempting enough offer can be made for the Dutch international, who could be a huge fix for the Herons’ defensive problems.
Leandro Paredes
If there’s one thing that could be a given if Inter Miami were to sign a new Designated Player, it’s that the player in question will have a link to Messi in some capacity, which is why Leandro Paredes could be a potential option.
The AS Roma midfielder, like Van Dijk, is set to become a free-agent at the end of this European season, with the 30-year-old midfielder part of Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup winning side as Pardes scored in the final shoot-out against France.
With Messi’s profile alone enough to tempt the likes of Suarez and Sergio Busquets to Inter Miami, there’s a real chance that the Argentina captain could lure an international teammate like Paredes to MLS if an offer were to be made in the coming weeks.
