Liverpool are already being credited with transfer interest in players three months before the summer window opens in mid-June, when Jeremy Jacquet will officially sign
Arne Slot before a Liverpool match
Arne Slot could do with a new central defender now, not the summer(Image: Getty Images)
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Alessandro Bastoni could be available for around £40million this summer instead of the previously quoted £60million valuation. Inter hopes to sell the Italy international to raise funds for their own signings in the transfer market, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Liverpool is among several clubs credited with an interest in Bastoni, with Barcelona said to have registered theirs with the player's agent, Tullio Tinti, in recent weeks. Several clubs in England reportedly could also emerge as suitors if his openness to a move becomes clear.
A move within Italy, however, appears unlikely, as Bastoni's net wages exceed £80,000. That salary reportedly means there are very few clubs in his home country willing to sign the two-time Serie A champion.
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Liverpool already have Jeremy Jacquet arriving this summer, but they could still be in the market for another central defender. Ibrahima Konate's contract is expiring, and Joe Gomez's future is seemingly uncertain every summer.
Bastoni's compatriot Giovanni Leoni also continues to recover from surgery to repair an anterior cruciate ligament tear on his left knee. The Inter defender has also endured a difficult last month and continues to hear boos during matches in Italy.
Hostile receptions follow Bastoni around after celebrating the sending off of Juventus player Pierre Kalulu in Inter's win over the team from Turin. The defender has admitted to falling exaggeratedly to get his fellow professional shown a second yellow card and help his team win the Derby d'Italia.
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Bastoni explained: "I exaggerated the fall once I felt contact with Kalulu to try and win a foul, but I have to apologise for my reaction afterwards as it wasn't nice to see, even if it was very human.
"I was caught up in the heat and intensity of such an important match. I'm sorry it went that way.
"I think it's right to take responsibility, but my character and my career shouldn't be questioned. I've played more than 300 professional matches.
"I didn't expect so much noise around it ... I've seen a lot of hypocrisy and heard people say things that just don't make sense. I thank those who commented fairly, saying I made a mistake without condemning my character."
He said: "On a personal level, it hasn't affected me too much ... we're exposed to this kind of media scrutiny, so I'm used to it, and I'm capable of handling it. I feel more sorry for my wife and for my daughter, who doesn't yet understand.
"Receiving death threats is unacceptable. I feel for her, and also for referee [Federico] La Penna, who found himself in the same situation ... they should not be subjected to this kind of thing."
Bastoni concluded: "Football has been like this for 100 years, there are incidents for and against you, and we need to stop constantly complaining and acting like moralists every time there's a case like this, ever since [Diego] Maradona's handball goal."