Key Takeaways
- Barcelona have set their sights on Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni but face competition from their own interest in Tottenham’s Cristian Romero.
- The Spanish giants will not pay more than €50 million for a centre-back, while Inter demand €60 million for the Italian international.
- Bastoni wishes to join the Catalan club this summer but refuses to submit a transfer request to force a move from San Siro.
FC Barcelona are actively hunting for a new centre-half ahead of the summer transfer window. The Catalan outfit hope to solve their defensive troubles by recruiting an established star who can strengthen their back line immediately.
Club officials have identified Alessandro Bastoni as their primary objective. However, they are also evaluating Cristian Romero as a possible alternative. The Argentine World Cup winner appears certain to depart Tottenham Hotspur when the season ends, irrespective of whether the North London side avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Representatives of the Spurs defender have already held discussions with Barcelona’s sporting department. News of these talks has reached Bastoni and his representatives, causing concern at Inter Milan.
Both the Italian club and the player worry that Barcelona might abandon their pursuit of Bastoni in favour of Romero. Tottenham are reportedly willing to accept a lower fee than Inter, which puts pressure on the Serie A side to reduce their asking price.
Currently, Inter Milan value their home-grown defender at €60 million. Barcelona, however, have imposed a strict budget limit of €50 million for this position. This amount would probably secure Romero’s signature, forcing the Nerazzurri to reconsider their financial demands if they wish to complete the sale.
The clubs have effectively agreed that Bastoni will leave this summer, but the final price remains a sticking point. The 25-year-old has communicated his desire to wear the Blaugrana shirt next season. Nevertheless, he prefers that the two clubs negotiate a friendly arrangement rather than forcing an exit through public demands.
Should the negotiations stall further, the Italian may feel compelled to clarify his position more firmly to Inter’s board. Barcelona face a delicate balancing act. While Bastoni would perfectly fill the gap left by injured defenders last term, the club cannot exhaust their transfer budget on one player. They also require a new centre-forward, which limits their spending power.
The coming weeks will reveal whether Barcelona opt for the Inter star or pivot to the Premier League alternative. Both players offer proven quality, but only one can arrive within the club’s financial constraints.