Manchester United Plotting Move for Inter CB Alessandro Bastoni

According to recent reports, Manchester United are planning a move to sign Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni in the upcoming summer transfer window. With departures in the central defense position imminent, the Red Devils are in the market for a new centre-back, with quality reinforcements a top priority for the club.

Alessandro Bastoni graduated from the Atalanta youth academy before joining the senior team in 2016. He joined Inter in 2017 and was loaned back to Atalanta for the 2017-18 season. He spent another loan spell at Parma in the following campaign before securing a permanent place in the first-team at Milan.

The 25-year-old has already racked up more than 200 games for the Nerazzurri, winning the Scudetto 2 times with the Italian club. He has also secured 22 caps for the Italian National Team and was part of the squad that won the UEFA Euro 2020.

According to Fichajes (via TheHardTackle), Manchester United are plotting a summer move for Alessandro Bastoni. The report claims the Red Devils are willing to spend around €60 million to bring the centre-back to Old Trafford. It still remains uncertain if the Serie A club will even consider this proposal.

The Serie A side certainly holds bargaining power as the Italian is contracted with the club till 2028. Moreover, the defender has demonstrated unwavering allegiance to the Nerazzurri, claiming he has no intention to leave. However, if he does become available, several clubs are expected to join the race. Some are suggesting Real Madrid are monitoring the situation as well.

The 25-year-old, a 2-time Scudetto and a Euros winner, would definitely bolster United’s defensive line. He brings maturity with his already decorated trophy cabinet at a young age and will be a valuable long-term asset, considering his age and potential.

How Will Alessandro Bastoni Fit Into The Manchester United Squad

Manchester United are expected to make a massive revamp of their squad. The centre-back position is a certainly a priority and is going to need several reinforcements. Raphael Varane has only just formally announced his departure from the club at the end of the season.

Jonny Evans’ contract is also expiring and that’s already two veterans leaving the club. The club may also consider moving on from Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire. New co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe seems keen on giving the entire squad a makeover, and the defence is definitely an important place to start.

This pass from Bastoni though… 🇮🇹🥵 pic.twitter.com/rztoJpFerJ

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) February 18, 2024

The Red Devils have also been linked to Bastoni’s Inter Milan teammate, Denzel Dumfries. If the pair are move to Old Trafford, they will link up with their former colleague, Andre Onana. This could definitely be beneficial for Onana, as he requires the right players in front of him to play out from the back. The Italian defender has time and time again proven his ability on the ball. He would definitely be an upgrade over Raphael Varane in terms of ball-playing ability.

Is Alessandro Bastoni The Right Player For Manchester United

Erik ten Hag’s first season at Manchester United can definitely be considered a success. The Red Devils held the record for the most clean sheets in the Premier League in the 2022/23 campaign – 17, as compared to a measly 9 clean sheets this season.

The backline was a key factor in the Red Devils keeping the highest clean sheets last season. The Dutchman used a back-four that most regularly consisted of Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and Diogo Dalot. This campaign saw this entire backline unavailable for the majority of the season and could be the reason for Ten Hag’s downfall.

The departure of Raphael Varane leaves a massive hole to be filled. ||The Frenchman brought a winning mentality, leadership, composure and stability to the backline. The Dutch manager will be looking to bring in a player who can offer the same.

Official: Inter Milan centre-back Alessandro Bastoni is the best defender in Serie A this season 2023/24. pic.twitter.com/KrneEaB4uY

— Football World ⚽ (@xFootballWorld_) May 24, 2024

Although Bastoni possesses several of these qualities, one feature differentiates him from Varane. The Italian is primarily a left-footed player and slots in at the left of the three centre-backs in Inter’s 3-5-2. This is a position that has currently been occupied by Lisandro Marinez, and he’s shown no reason to be replaced.

It may also not make sense to replace the former Madrid man with the Italian, as he may struggle to play on the right with a dominant left foot and certainly not the best decision to splash €60 million on a rotational player. Alessandro Bastoni may be a player worthy of wearing the Manchester United shirt. However, given their situation, this may not be the best window for him to make the move.

The Transfer Situation

Alessandro Bastoni’s contract with Inter Milan expires in the summer of 2028. The Italian is also not very keen on a move away from the San Siro right now. All these factors ensure that he will not be a cheap or easy player for the Red Devils to acquire.

Meanwhile, the club have also been linked to other quality centre-backs, namely Jarrad Branthwaite, Miguel Gutierrez, Gleison Bremer, Marc Guehi and Leny Yoro. United are currently in a very difficult situation. Conceding 58 goals and keeping only 9 clean sheets is not a statistic that a club of United’s stature should have. Experienced veterans leaving the club makes it even more difficult to fix.

The club must progress carefully if they wish to secure a top-4 finish next season. Assessing the available options and selecting the best candidate is only the first step for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and this new era at Old Trafford. Alessandro Bastoni is undoubtedly a player of immense quality and potential. It remains to be seen if Manchester United see him as the perfect piece and how they choose to approach this situation.

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