Manchester United will have to fend off competition from Manchester City for the services of Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni.
Bastoni is speculated to be able to move when the summer transfer window opens.
The player’s mandate at San Siro expires in 2024 and there are still no concrete indications that he will sign a new contract to extend his stay at Inter.
The Serie A giants will have to sell the 24-year-old this summer to avoid losing him on loan next year.
Fichajes reports: “Manchester United and Manchester City are interested in engaging the services of Alessandro Bastoni in the next transfer window. A new edition of the Manchester derby for the signing of one of the best centre-backs in Serie A today.”
“He has provided six assists in 33 games in all competitions this season, which has attracted the attention of both Manchester city clubs.”
Fichajes added: “The possibility under discussion is that Bastoni has a market price of €52m, which is not at all high for the Premier League big names [United and City].”
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola would like to replace Aymeric Laporte with Bastoni.
Laporte is leaving the Etihad. This season, Guardiola has made extensive use of his centre-backs Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias and John Stones.
At Old Trafford, the likely exits of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof could mean new faces need to be acquired.
Sufficient reinforcements and competition are also needed for Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane. United confirmed in a statement yesterday that Martinez will miss the rest of the season with an injury.
There are also genuine fears that Varane’s campaign is over, although there is hope that he may still have a small part to play.
Lindelof and Maguire are the only two senior centre-backs left in the ranks, highlighting United’s shortcomings in that part of the pitch.
Bastoni would be a very welcome addition.
