#INSERT type:image caption:Without European football, players such as Mauro Icardi could request a move as early as this summer. END#
Inter Milan's worst season in over 20 years is jeopardising their future plans, with potential transfer targets looking increasingly out of reach and current players likely to be considering their future with the prospect of a season without European football.
Not since 1994, when three points were awarded for a win, have Inter accumulated so few points as the 38 they have after 29 rounds of the current season.
Their previous low was in the 1998-99 season, when they had 40 points and went on to finish ninth. Keeping goal for them that year was Gianluca Pagliuca, who cannot find any explanation as to why the current crop of Nerazzurri are in such a bad state.
"Looking at the quality of the squad, there's no comparison," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "They have far more quality now than the team I was playing in."
That Inter recovered with wins over Fiorentina and Roma and Pagliuca says that similar results are required if Inter are to salvage their season. He says it is up to the players to rise to the occasion in games against Milan, Roma, Lazio and Juventus between now and the end of the season.
"They've got to find that motivation," he said. "They've got to realise they are in a big club. [Roberto] Mancini is one who takes responsibility and there aren't many around like him."
Nevertheless, there are currently 10 points separating Inter, who have not won in seven, from fifth-placed Sampdoria and a place in Europe next season -- regarded as the minimum objective for the season.
Without European football, players such as Mauro Icardi could choose not only to refuse a new contract extension, with talks currently on ice, but request a move as early as this summer. Targets Jeremy Toulalan, who now appears more tempted by Monaco's offer of a new contract with Champions League football possible than a move to Milan, and Yaya Toure appear increasingly out of reach.