Manchester City could reportedly sign Alessandro Bastoni from Inter Milan for £48 million this summer.
Inter Live have provided an update on the central defender, who was named Player of the Match after Inter’s 2-0 win over Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Supposedly, the Italy international could be sold if the club fail to make the Champions League next season.
Currently, Inter are fifth in Serie A. They are one point behind rivals AC Milan.
Inter are said to need to raise funds this summer in order to balance the books.
If they do not qualify for the Champions League for next season then they will need to raise more funds.
The idea is floated that failure to quality will mean ‘untouchable’ players may need selling. Bastoni falls into this category.
It was recently suggested that Bastoni is a player City have followed for a long time.
Supposedly, Pep Guardiola has long admired him. But City have never acted on their interest.
But there has been speculation about the future of Aymeric Laporte recently, with the Spain international struggling for minutes at the Etihad.
In recent times, Guardiola has preferred to use a back three with Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji, with John Stones in a hybrid role.
Laporte has had to contend with a place on the bench, and has made fewer appearances than even Cole Palmer this season.
On Instagram yesterday, he posted a cryptic message saying ‘After the rain, a rainbow; after a storm, the calm; and after an end, a new beginning’, fueling speculation he could be leaving this summer.
Alessandro Bastoni for £48 million from Inter Milan would be a great deal by Man City
If Inter do happen to miss out on Champions League football for next season, then a move for Bastoni is definitely worth considering.
The speculation surrounding Laporte’s future refuses to go away, and his recent post on Instagram did feel significant.
If Laporte agitates for a move this summer and Inter are not in next season’s Champions League, then Bastoni should be the player City go far.
The 23-year-old is another ball-playing left-footer, and is already a really accomplished defender with the potential to become truly special.
He is currently in talks with Inter over a new deal though, so him extending would very likely rule any move to the Etihad out this summer.
