Inter Milan hoping for a ‘record sale’ for defender wanted by Barcelona | OneFootball

As relayed earlier today, Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni is prioritising a move to Barcelona as he nears a departure from the Serie A.

The centre-back has been on the Catalans’ radar for a while now, especially given that he is experienced and is left-footed – something that would instantly solve many of the team’s defensive instabilities.

In fact, it was rumoured that Inter Milan had come down from their initial demands of €80 million and were willing to sell him for around €50 million plus variables in the summer.

Wish for a record sale

Now, as relayed by Fabrizio Romano, the current scenario is far from what has been relayed in recent hours.

Inter Milan, if they do part ways with Bastoni, want to make a record sale for a defender and are hoping to exact a massive fee from the transfer.

Bastoni will not come cheap. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

If they do sell him, they do not expect the €120 million that they earned from Romelu Lukaku’s transfer to Chelsea, but still have a desire to make a very expensive sale. After all, they see him as a top player.

What the update means, needless to say, is that the €50 million tag described in recent hours is off the mark by quite some distance and that Inter Milan will not make it easy for Barcelona to sign the player in June.

Hansi Flick and Co. have been on the lookout for a top-quality central defender to bolster the back-line in the summer, especially given how unreliable the department has been this season since the departure of Inigo Martinez.

Bastoni would be the ideal target, but Barcelona will likely have to rake in some significant funds from player sales if they are indeed to make his signing a reality.