Inter Milan set €70 million price tag on Mourinho’s top defensive target for Real Madrid | OneFootball

Real Madrid are firmly pushing for a new central-defensive recruit after Ibrahima Konate, as Jose Mourinho is clear that the department requires wholesale changes.

Considering that Konate arrived as a free agent, Los Blancos are even willing to shell out a decent fee for a second elite signing in the department, and several names have come to the fore as possible targets.

One name heavily linked with the club, particularly as Jose Mourinho’s ‘chosen’ candidate, is Inter Milan star Alessandro Bastoni and AS now provides an update on the player’s situation and availability.

A big fee to be paid

As reported by the Spanish outlet, Bastoni was firmly in Barcelona’s transfer plans not too long ago, and at the time, the Serie A-based club were demanding a fee of €70 million for the star. The figure was said to be non-negotiable but sufficient to price him out of Italy.

Inter Milan want €70m for Bastoni. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Since Barcelona were unable to make such a massive proposal, they never officially sent an offer. The same deal, however, is available for Real Madrid to activate and thus sets the price on the Inter Milan star.

Should Real Madrid be prepared to table an offer of €70 million for the defender, Inter Milan would open the negotiation table and a move can be discussed.

After all, the player is ready to start a new chapter in his career and will not turn down a chance to sign for Real Madrid. Mourinho, moreover, ‘loves’ the player and is pushing for the transfer.

Clubs are already in contact

Real Madrid and Inter Milan have been in conversations for several weeks now over a separate transfer – the move of Denzel Dumfries to the Spanish capital with a €20 million price tag.

Mourinho sees Bastoni as his preferred target. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)

It is thus clear that the waters have been tested for Bastoni’s transfer too during the same conversations.

In addition, Real Madrid legends and Inter Milan legends played a recent friendly fixture this month where Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and Inter Milan president Beppe Marotta met and had discussions.

Given how the player is ready to move away from Italy and has ongoing tensions with fans in the Serie A, it is clear that even the Italians will see the current transfer window as the best moment to sell him for a handsome fee.

After all, his contract is only until 2028 and a renewal also looks unlikely.