Barcelona and Liverpool are reportedly interested in Alessandro Bastoni but Inter Milan are hoping to tie him down to a new deal.
According to a report by Transfer Market Web, Alessandro Bastoni is starting to become a hot property in the market ahead of the summer transfer window. Barcelona, Liverpool and Bayern Munich are all keeping tabs on the Italian international, who is valued at around €45 million by Inter Milan.
Alessandro Bastoni joined Inter Milan from Atalanta in the summer of 2017, but it was not until the arrival of Antonio Conte ahead of the 2019/20 season that he finally established himself in the first-team setup at San Siro. Now a mainstay at the back for the Nerazzurri, the 21-year-old has also broken into the Italian national side.
This season, Bastoni has gone on to become indispensable as the season has progressed, making 32 appearances across all competitions while missing just 4 games when fit and available. His progress has invariably been noticed, with some of the biggest clubs in Europe closely monitoring him. These include Barcelona and Liverpool.
Barcelona are beginning another transitional period ahead of the summer transfer window, with defence set to be addressed as well. There are brewing issues at the heart of the backline, with Gerard Pique in the twilight of his career while the likes of Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti have frustrated with their inconsistencies.
That leaves Ronald Koeman with youngsters Ronald Araujo and Oscar Mingueza as the only other options at his disposal, which is why it is not surprising that Frenkie de Jong has featured as a centre-back at times this season. To that end, Bastoni is a viable target for Barcelona. Liverpool are also in a similar boat, albeit for different reasons.
The need to sign a centre-back has brutally emerged this season, with Liverpool struggling to no end in the absence of Virgil van Dijk. With Joe Gomez and Joel Matip also sidelined, Jurgen Klopp has been forced to chop and change heavily at the back, with the latest pairing being that of Nat Phillips and Ozan Kabak.
While the duo has impressed, both of them are inexperienced, with Ben Davies yet to make an impression due to his fitness struggles. As a result, it is hardly surprising that Liverpool are keen on signing a centre-back in the summer, with Ibrahima Konate reported to be a summer priority. The Reds and Barcelona now have competition for Bastoni, though, with Bayern Munich also interested in him.
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Bayern Munich are preparing for life after Jerome Boateng and David Alaba, who has been linked with both Liverpool and Barcelona. While they are set to welcome Dayot Upamecano to the Allianz Arena, they will need another centre-back in the summer, with Niklas Sule the only other option at Hansi Flick’s disposal, although Benjamin Pavard can also play as a centre-back.
Meanwhile, Bastoni is valued at around €45 million by Inter Milan, although the Nerazzurri are intent on keeping hold of the 21-year-old. Reports have also suggested that the Italian international wants to stay put at San Siro. So, it remains to be seen if Barcelona, Liverpool or Bayern can turn his head in the summer, or if he pens a new deal, as Inter want him to.
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