After Barcelona withdrew from the pursuit of Italian centre-back Alessandro Bastoni, Liverpool have emerged as one of the leading candidates to sign the Inter defensive linchpin this summer. According to information at our disposal, with the La Liga giants actively cooling their interest, the Reds are moving from potential suitors to frontrunners on the centre-back reinforcement front.
Manager change and rebuild: Why Liverpool urgently need a new centre-back
After the club dismissed Arne Slot at the end of last month, Andoni Iraola officially took charge as Liverpool's new head coach last week. Their just-concluded campaign finished only fifth in the Premier League—a stark drop after lifting the league title the previous season; a 1-1 home draw in the final game also failed to provide a more fitting end to a turbulent season.
Compounding matters is the turnover in personnel. This summer Liverpool have already lost Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konaté in a substantial squad overhaul. Konaté ultimately joined Real Madrid, alongside Denzel Dumfries as options for the La Liga giants to strengthen their defence—also helping explain why Real Madrid are no longer in the running for Bastoni.
Although a deal was already secured in January to bring Jérémy Jacquet in from Rennes, centre-backs remain a summer transfer priority. With defensive pillars departing and a new manager needing to stamp his authority, signing a top-class, ready-made centre-back would be almost a statement of intent for Iraola.
Why Barcelona are out: gap in valuation and the player's stance
Barcelona did make a serious attempt. Sporting director Deco made several trips to Milan for talks with Inter and the player's camp. But reportedly Barcelona's proposal was in the region of €40-45 million plus add-ons, falling well short of Inter's asking price of at least €60-70 million.
More critically, Inter have sent a clear signal: unless Bastoni himself actively expresses a desire to leave, negotiations are unlikely to make meaningful progress. With both price and attitude acting as twin hurdles, Barcelona have shifted their recruitment focus elsewhere—and for Real Madrid, another of the La Liga giants, the same applies after signing Konaté and Dumfries.
Liverpool's Multi-Front Planning and Bastoni's Value
Fenway Sports Group's leadership plan to give the new manager full backing in his first summer window. Beyond a centre-back, Liverpool are also set to bring in at least one winger—with Salah gone and Cody Gakpo's form fluctuating last season, the wide areas urgently need strengthening; Amad Diomande is also among the prime targets.
Bastoni's value lies in his blend of age, ball-playing ability and big-game experience, fitting directly into Iraola's demands for a high defensive line. Within Inter's defensive system, he has long served as the organisational hub—a "modern centre-back" profile that Liverpool currently lack most. Compared with the fee bracket Barcelona could not meet, Liverpool's chances of getting the deal done are clearly higher if they can strike a balance between the player's willingness and the transfer fee.
What to Watch Next: Who's Still at the Table
With Barcelona and Real Madrid having moved on, Liverpool and a handful of Premier League clubs remain viewed as active participants in the race for Bastoni. For us, the three variables most worth monitoring from here are: whether Bastoni makes his desire to leave Inter clear to the club; whether Liverpool can lock down a first-choice centre-back before Yak arrives; and whether Premier League rivals will jump in with inflated bids.
From a strategic standpoint, this is not just centre-back recruitment—it is the first building block of the Iraola era. If Liverpool can complete this signing in the summer window, the character and ceiling of their back line next season will be reshaped; conversely, with Konaté already bound for Real Madrid, the void at centre-back will only grow wider.
