Liverpool are said to be eyeing a move for Inter Milan and Italy centre-back Alessandro Bastoni this summer, with Newcastle United also keen.
Ibrahima Konate’s move to Real Madrid has increased the need for the Reds to bring in a new central defender to partner Virgil van Dijk next season, as well as helping to handle the Dutchman’s workload better.
Admittedly, Jeremy Jacquet is already coming in from Rennes, and Giovanni Leoni is returning from a serious knee injury, but both are young players who shouldn’t be rushed into the starting lineup on a regular basis.
According to Calciomercato [via The Hard Tackle], Liverpool are eyeing a summer move for Inter ace Bastoni, who could cost as much as £60m.
The 27-year-old is also wanted by Newcastle, although it is stressed that neither club is “ready to present the right offer” yet, and Barcelona have walked away from a deal.
Is Alessandro Bastoni worth pursuing for Liverpool?
Bastoni is arguably one of the best centre-backs in Europe currently, becoming a mainstay for both Inter and Italy, and winning the Serie A title in 2025/26.
He is coming right into his peak years, and he could be a fantastic long-term replacement for Van Dijk, being lauded by his current manager Christian Chivu recently:
“Bastoni is our champion. It’s normal that there are transfer rumours around him because, for me, he is one of the strongest centre-backs in the world. I know what kind of person Alessandro is, but above all I know what he has given, what he gives and what he will give us in the future.”
It could be argued that Liverpool shouldn’t be spending as much as £60m on a defender, however, and their transfer kitty needs to be focused more on a right-back, winger and central midfielder.
For that reason, looking at a cheaper experienced option may make sense for the Reds, while also slowly making Jacquet and Leoni more integral figures.
But if the funds are suddenly able to go big on a centre-back, Bastoni should be considered a fantastic option, combining defensive dominance with quality on the ball.