Barcelona considers acquisition of Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni, according to sources.
Barcelona is keen on acquiring Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni but is also considering other alternatives internally, according to club sources who spoke to ESPN.
ESPN disclosed in December that one of Barça’s main objectives this summer is to secure a new centre-back after not successfully replacing Iñigo Martínez last year.
Bastoni, 26, is among the players that sporting director Deco is monitoring, as he meets the criteria Barça is looking for: a left-footed centre-back with top-level experience and potential for future development.
Aston Villa’s Pau Torres and Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck are also on the list of targets, as previously reported by ESPN, while Luka Vuskovic (currently on loan at Hamburg from Tottenham Hotspur), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham), and Nathan Aké (Manchester City) have also been mentioned.
One source indicated to ESPN that there are additional names being considered that have not yet been disclosed, but emphasized Bastoni as one of the top candidates for the position.
Nonetheless, there are concerns regarding the financial commitment required for the Italy international, who has a contract with Inter until 2027 and would entail a significant transfer fee.
The Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Tuesday that the Serie A leaders would demand over €50 million ($58m).
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Barça is also exploring the market for a No.9 this summer, which may necessitate prioritizing their financial resources as they aim to enhance the squad.
If they decide to invest heavily in a striker, they might look for a more affordable alternative to Bastoni.
Currently, Barça’s defensive options include Pau Cubarsí, Eric García, Ronald Araújo, Gerard Martín, and Andreas Christensen.
Christensen is sidelined due to injury and will be out of contract this summer, although Deco has indicated that the club is willing to extend the Danish international’s contract.
