Serie A champions Inter Milan have considered offering Alessandro Bastoni a new contract in an attempt to ward off Antonio Conte’s Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur, as reported by Calciomercato.
An in-form Spurs side have identified a left-sided central defender as one of their top summer targets. The problem is, as far as Conte and marketing director Fabio Paratici is concerned, they don’t exactly grow on trees.
According to The Athletic, there are four names on Tottenham’s wishlist as things stand; RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol, Lille’s Sven Botman, Freiburg’s Nico Schlotterbeck and the imperious Italy international Bastoni.
Gvardiol, however, has already committed his future to Domenico Tedesco’s upwardly-mobile Bundesliga outfit. Botman has agreed a move to AC Milan. Schlotterbeck is in talks with Borussia Dortmund.
And Inter could move heaven and earth to ensure that Bastoni – the epitome of a modern, ball-playing centre-half – stays at San Siro.
Will Antonio Conte sign Alessandro Bastoni?
The ink is still drying on the new, £50,000-a-week contract Bastoni signed less than 12 months ago. According to Calciomercato, the Inter bosses have thought about offering the 22-year-old another contract extension in an attempt to bat away ‘dangerous temptations from England’.
Bastoni reportedly has admirers at Arsenal and Liverpool too, with his agent discussing the prospect of a move to Newcastle United.
The report adds that the uncertainty over Bastoni’s centre-back partner – the unflabbable Stefan de Vrij – have caused further headaches at the San Siro. There is a chance that cash-strapped Inter could extend De Vrij’s deal and look to sell the younger, more valuable Bastoni for a sizeable profit instead.
Inter paid a substantial fee to sign Bastoni from Serie A rivals Atalanta when he had just three Serie A appearances under his belt. It will now take around £50 million to lure him away from the Nerazzuri.
“Everyone had spoken highly of Conte and I’ve only received confirmation of how great he is. As far as I am concerned, Conte is the Messi of coaches,” Bastoni told Gazzetta dello Sport two years ago.
“He is phenomenal, has exceptional footballing ideas and always wants to go on the attack.”
CM add that, while Tottenham have shown a serious interest in Bastoni, the Londoners are yet to touch base with Inter Milan.
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