Barcelona top target could be one step closer to move as his club begin replacement search | OneFootball

FC Barcelona have identified room for improvement in their sporting project, with one of the main priorities being greater defensive solidity.

Both Deco and Hansi Flick have made the signing of a top-level left-footed central defender a priority for next season, with Alessandro Bastoni as their preferred target.

While a move for the Italian international seemed unrealistic a few months ago, the situation is now increasingly moving towards a possible transfer.

Inter Milan looking for replacements

Indeed, according to SPORT, one of the clearest signs of a potential departure is that Inter Milan have already begun exploring possible replacements.

Their shortlist includes Alessandro Buongiorno of Napoli, Evan Ndicka of AS Roma, and Jhon Lucumi of Bologna, with initial approaches already underway.

This comes after Barcelona initiated contact at the start of the season with Bastoni’s representatives to understand his future plans. That meeting produced a positive response, pending clarity over the intentions of Inter Milan.

The Italian side had initially been reluctant to sell Bastoni, but they have now accepted that the defender is transferable and that his sale could help finance their desired reinforcements.

Bastoni is a priority target for Barcelona. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

In recent weeks, there has been concrete progress. Inter themselves have indicated that Bastoni is available, although his valuation remains unclear.

For now, the Italian club are holding firm on a price of around €70 million, although the Blaugrana believe that figure could be reduced through different negotiation formulas.

Negotiations to be stepped up from April

Barcelona are expected to intensify their pursuit of Bastoni from April. The club do not want to enter into a bidding war, meaning the player would need to take a clear stance, indicating that if he leaves, it would only be for the Catalans.

From that point, negotiations for the transfer would be pursued. The deal could be structured in a way that reduces the transfer fee, potentially through the inclusion of a Barça player in the operation.

This aspect remains the only factor that could slow progress, as the club’s sporting management is cautious about disrupting the dressing room at a decisive stage of the season.