Liverpool Targets Bastoni as Defensive Solution

Liverpool’s search for a new defensive pillar may have opened up in front of them.

Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni, fresh from celebrating a third Serie A title, could find the path to Anfield suddenly far clearer than it looked a few weeks ago. Barcelona had been hovering, watching, calling. Now, according to reports in Spain, that interest is starting to cool.

Barca step back, door opens

Bastoni has long been admired across Europe: a left-footed centre-back with top-level pedigree, 43 caps for Italy and titles won under Antonio Conte, Simone Inzaghi and most recently Cristian Chivu. On paper, he ticks plenty of boxes for a modern superclub.

Barcelona thought so too. Mundo Deportivo report that the Catalan side made contact in January and that Bastoni was more than open to the idea of stepping out at Camp Nou. The profile seemed to fit: left-footed, comfortable in possession, used to playing for a dominant side.

Then came the shift.

Hansi Flick, tasked with reshaping Barça, is said to want a left-footed central defender with real recovery pace to protect an aggressive, high defensive line. That, the Spanish outlet claims, is where Bastoni no longer quite matches the template. If Flick has redrawn the criteria, Bastoni’s chances of pulling on the Blaugrana shirt shrink dramatically.

And that is where Liverpool enter the frame.

Slot’s puzzle at the back

Arne Slot inherits a Liverpool squad rich in options but light in one specific area: natural left-footed central defenders. It is a gap that has been talked about for several windows without being decisively addressed.

Bastoni, at 27, would walk straight into that discussion.

Liverpool have already moved to secure the future with Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet, but both arrive off the back of serious, season-ending injuries. Both are also clearly signings for tomorrow rather than today. Bastoni, by contrast, is in his prime and battle-hardened at the very top level. He would not be a project. He would be a plug-in solution.

Football Insider have reported that Liverpool have identified the Inter defender as a potential transfer option. If Barcelona really are stepping away, the competition for his signature looks far less intimidating than it did when the Spanish giants were circling.

Inter stand firm – for now

Any move, though, would run straight into the reality of dealing with Inter.

Sporting director Piero Ausilio has already nailed down the club’s public stance. “We haven't received any offers for Bastoni,” he said. “He's a valuable player for Inter and for Italy, a strong player, an incredible footballer, and we want him to stay.”

That line is familiar. Inter know exactly what they have. A left-sided defender of this quality, with his experience and age profile, does not come cheap, and there is no suggestion from the club side that they are in a hurry to cash in.

Liverpool, if they decide Bastoni is the man to anchor Slot’s new era, would have to test just how firm that resolve really is.

Konaté close to committing

All of this unfolds against a backdrop of stability elsewhere in Liverpool’s back line.

Ibrahima Konaté is understood to be close to agreeing a new contract at Anfield. The Frenchman had been linked with Real Madrid, with suggestions the Spanish giants could look to exploit his contract situation and move for him on a free transfer this summer. That scenario now looks increasingly unlikely as Liverpool move to secure his future.

Tie down Konaté. Add a left-footed partner of Bastoni’s calibre. Blend that with the younger talents recovering in the background.

If Liverpool choose to act, this could be the summer their defence is not just refreshed, but redefined.