Liverpool and Arsenal Join Barcelona in £100m Alessandro Bastoni Transfer Race with Inter Milan Reluctant to Sell
Ben McAleer
Liverpool and Arsenal are prepared to rival La Liga giants Barcelona in the race to sign Inter Milan’s star defender Alessandro Bastoni, reports CaughtOffside.
Bastoni is widely regarded as one of the best defenders on the continent having come through the ranks to consolidate a starting spot for the Nerazzurri.
Inter currently sit 10 points clear of rivals AC Milan in the race for the Scudetto ahead of the Milan Derby at the weekend with Bastoni key to their Scudetto push.
The Serie A leaders would be reluctant to cash in on the 26-year-old, who is contracted to the club until 2028.
Liverpool may push to sign Bastoni as Van Dijk replacement
However, Premier League pair Liverpool and Arsenal are monitoring Bastoni’s situation in Italy should Inter consider a potential sale.
The Reds are weighing up centre-back options ahead of the summer window with Ibrahima Konate’s future at the club in doubt.
Konate’s current contract expires at the end of the season and talks between the player and club are at an impasse.
Liverpool have already confirmed the signing of Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes this summer, but are scouring the centre-back market in their bid to sign a long-term successor for captain Virgil van Dijk.
Van Dijk has a little over 12 months left to run on the two-year deal he signed last April but does turn 35 in July.
Compatriot Micky van de Ven has been earmarked as a potential Van Dijk successor with the 24-year-old’s Tottenham future currently up in the air.
Arsenal and Barcelona would rival Reds for Italian defender
Arsenal, meanwhile, would provide stiff competition in any push to sign Bastoni, though the Premier League duo, along with Spanish powerhouse Barcelona, would need to fork out close to £100m to convince Inter to cash in on one of their prized assets.
Bastoni is expected to start for Inter in their Coppa Italia tie with Como on Tuesday night before attention turns to league duties and the Milan Derby.
Victory for Inter against their city rivals would see Christian Chivu’s side go 13 points clear at the top of the table with 10 games to play.
