Inter Milan valuation stance shapes Bastoni future
Alessandro Bastoni has once again found himself at the centre of European transfer chatter, with Liverpool understood to be monitoring developments around the Inter Milan defender as clubs across the continent assess centre-back options ahead of the summer window.
According to reporting from Calciomercato, the Italy international is viewed internally as almost untouchable.
For Liverpool, who are building their next defensive cycle around Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté while considering depth and succession planning in Arne Slot’s evolving 2-3-5 structure, Bastoni’s profile is obvious. A left-footed centre-back comfortable stepping into midfield lanes, he mirrors the tactical requirements Slot has emphasised at Anfield this season: progression, composure, and defensive timing.
Yet Inter Milan’s stance is firm. Without a release clause and with Oaktree ownership keen to keep key assets, any deal would require a transformative offer.
Liverpool defensive planning under Slot
Liverpool’s recruitment department have spent much of the past year analysing centre-back options who fit the club’s evolving tactical demands. While Konaté remains first choice alongside Van Dijk, injuries and workload management have made depth a priority.
Names like Lloyd Kelly, Nico Schlotterbeck and emerging prospects across Europe have been watched, but Bastoni represents a different calibre. At 26, he offers prime-age reliability, Champions League experience, and the technical quality needed to operate in Slot’s positional system.
As analysts around Anfield Index’s Red Room have repeatedly noted in recent tactical breakdowns, Liverpool’s biggest defensive challenge is not simply replacing Van Dijk eventually, but ensuring continuity in build-up play. Bastoni’s passing range, particularly his diagonals into advanced full-back zones, aligns closely with Liverpool’s patterns seen in wins over Newcastle and Qarabag this season.
However, sources close to the situation caution that Liverpool’s interest is currently exploratory. Inter Milan have shown little willingness to sell unless presented with an exceptional bid, and competition from clubs such as Barcelona and Arsenal further complicates matters.
Market competition intensifies across Europe
Barcelona’s long-term defensive rebuild, Arsenal’s search for depth behind William Saliba and Gabriel, and Liverpool’s planning for the post-Van Dijk era all intersect around the same small pool of elite defenders. That scarcity inevitably drives valuations upward.
Inter Milan’s leverage is strengthened by Bastoni’s contract length and importance to their tactical identity. His ability to defend wide channels, step into midfield, and lead a back line is difficult to replace, making any negotiation complex.
Transfer outlook ahead of summer window
Liverpool are expected to review multiple defensive targets once the season concludes, balancing budget considerations with squad priorities. Midfield depth and right-sided attacking reinforcements may also demand investment, meaning a move for Bastoni would depend on both Inter Milan’s stance and Liverpool’s financial strategy.
For now, the situation reflects a familiar modern transfer narrative: elite defender, multiple suitors, club reluctant to sell. As Calciomercato noted, Bastoni is a player Inter Milan “non vorrebbe cedere,” yet interest from Europe’s biggest sides continues to grow.
Liverpool supporters will recognise the pattern. Recruitment at Anfield under Slot has been patient, data-driven and opportunistic. Should circumstances change in Milan, Bastoni could quickly become one of the most compelling defensive options on the market.