Alessandro Bastoni should be a Liverpool target this summer - opinionplaceholder image
Alessandro Bastoni should be a Liverpool target this summer - opinion | Getty Images
Liverpool continue to be linked with a series of centre-halves and the latest is from Serie A.
Football rarely makes sense, however, when Liverpool failed to sign a centre-half after missing out on Marc Guehi, a plan B was expected.
Not only did the Reds not address the problem last summer, but they failed to address it in January too despite Giovanni Leoni’s knee injury, Joe Gomez continuing to struggle to play 90 minutes and Ibrahima Konate looking increasingly likely that he is about to leave Anfield. Jeremy Jacquet was signed, only to suffer a long term injury himself and for his arrival to be confirmed as being in the summer.
Liverpool in centre-half uncertainty
A teenager returning from major surgery, a 20-year old who has never played for a big club returning from surgery and Gomez with his well-known fitness issues is far from being a robust centre-half department that can support the evergreen Virgil van Dijk. Approaching his 35th birthday though, it is only a matter of time before he too suffers the downturn in form that has affected Mohamed Salah this season.
There have been mixed messages about whether or not a senior centre-half remains a summer target. Bild claimed that Liverpool and Arne Slot are happy with the four that will be contracted for next season without any new additions whilst there have been counter-claims that Slot has already spoken to Nico Schlotterbeck about a potential move from Borussia Dortmund. What seems to be an accepted consensus is that Micky van de Ven is no longer a target due to his £100m price tag and his recent performances.
Liverpool wait on Bastoni transfer decision
One player who is still on the shortlist, according to former Sky Sports man Pete O’Rourke is Alessandro Bastoni who, as reported in Football Insider could cost Richard Hughes a bob or two: “Liverpool will need to pay ‘huge money’ in order to tempt Inter Milan into selling centre-back Alessandro Bastoni this summer, sources have told Football Insider.
“The 26-year-old is set to be chased by several of Europe’s top clubs if he becomes available in the market ahead of next season, but bids in excess of £80million will be required just to bring Inter to the negotiating table. Arne Slot’s side have held a long-term interest in Bastoni, but sources say that their ability to sign him this summer depends on whether he is keen to explore a new challenge in his career.”
Widely accepted as one of Europe’s most consistent centre-halves and a natural leader, if Liverpool want to shore up their shaky defence, they might not have any other option but to pay the sort of fee that was worth every penny for Van Dijk.
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