Alessandro Bastoni should embark upon the ‘next step’ in his development and move to the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur in talks for the Inter Milan defender, former Italy international Matteo Brighi tells Tuttomercatoweb.
Rather you than us, Simone.
After losing Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi last summer, Inter Milan’s rather precarious financial situation means head coach Inzaghi is under serious pressure to sell the crown jewels in order to stop the roof from caving in on the Nerazzuri kingdom.
The departure of Ivan Perisic helps ease the pressure somewhat but his free-transfer switch to Tottenham does not solve the problem of Inter needing to raise around £50 million in player sales before the summer is out, according to Corriere dello Sport.
La Republica claim that Inter and Spurs are in talks again, with Bastoni on the menu this time. Coincidence or not, the Italy international centre-half will cost £50 million – pretty much exactly the figure Inter need to quell those financial fears.
Will Tottenham Hotspur raid Inter Milan again for Alessandro Bastoni?
Bastoni, one of Europe’s most cultured, left-footed centre-halves, wants to stay at the San Siro. That decision could soon be taken out of his hands, however. As Lukaku discovered last summer, no one is un-expendable as FFP tightens it’s vice-like grip.
“Football has changed. In recent years, there has been a reluctance from Italians to go abroad,” says Brighi, Serie A’s Young Player of the Year in 2002.
Bastoni, he says, can only benefit from following in the footsteps of Dejan Kulusevski, Cristian Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur, three Serie A exports who have played some of the best football of their careers under Conte in North London.
“Bastoni has imposed himself at Inter. The next step is to compete in the Premier League and with (a club) whom he will play permanently in Europe,” Brighi adds.
Juventus legend Alessio Tacchinardi, meanwhile, believes Bastoni may be the most fitting solution to Inter’s monetary worries. The former Atalanta youngster, he says, is a more valuable, sell-able asset than the likesof Nicolo Barella.
“Bastoni perhaps has more of a market,” Tacchinardi explains to FC Inter News. “If I have to sacrifice one between him and Barella, I would sacrifice Bastoni. 70 million euros for a defender is a lot.”
Interestingly, Bastoni’s centre-back partner Milan Skriniar recently ruled out a move to Tottenham.
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