Liverpool has reportedly been told that a bid upwards of $78 million would be required to land Alessandro Bastoni during the summer transfer window.
The Reds could be in the market for a new center-back this summer, particularly if Virgil van Dijk ends up leaving the club on a free transfer at the end of his contract. Bastoni has established himself as one of the best defenders in European soccer in recent times, having been a regular for an Inter Milan side that has conceded just 49 goals in 67 Serie A games since the beginning of last season.
The 25-year-old has a contract with Inter which runs until the summer of 2028, which puts the San Siro club in a strong position to demand a big fee for Bastoni should it decide to sell the 25-year-old. Inter reportedly wants to keep Bastoni, while the player is not expected to push for a move, but a big offer could tempt the Italian club to the negotiating table.
Alongside Bastoni, who Tottenham is reportedly also interested in, Liverpool is said to be monitoring Dean Huijsen of Bournemouth as well as Crystal Palace captain Mark Guehi. Guehi was heavily linked with a move away from Palace off the back of his performances at last summer’s European Championship, when Joe Gomez was touted as a possible replacement for him at Selhurst Park.
Guehi and Gomez both ended up staying put, but Gomez could face another uncertain summer 12 months on after experiencing a difficult season at Liverpool due to injuries and a lack of game time. Ibrahima Konate is another Liverpool defender whose future is up in the air. The French center-back is set to become a free agent at the end of next season and he has made no secret of the fact that he is a Paris Saint-Germain supporter.
Konate confirmed earlier this season that he had been offered fresh terms to renew his deal at Anfield, but would not be drawn on whether he intended to stay. “It’s true, I’ve been offered a new contract by Liverpool,” Konate said during a press conference in January. “Am I close to signing it? That’s another conversation.”
