Barcelona linked with cut-price Serie A alternative to Alessandro Bastoni | OneFootball

Barcelona have made little secret of their interest in Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni, and it seems he is their priority to strengthen their backline this summer. However Director of Football Deco will have to prepare for alternative scenarios where the deal does not come off, or is impossible, as he heads into another transfer market without guarantees on his budget.

Reports in Italy state that Barcelona have already started negotiating for Bastoni, and have made a first offer for him. That offer is some way short of Inter’s demands though, and the two sides will have to negotiate hard to reach a deal. The Blaugrana do have alternatives shortlisted though.

Barcelona linked with cut-price alternative to Bastoni

According to Il Resto del Carlino, as quote by Tutto Bologna, Barcelona are also looking at Colombian defender Jhon Lucumi as a potential alternative to Bastoni. The Bologna man is set to be granted an exit for around €25m this summer, and has a number of sides interested, with just a year remaining on his deal.

Premier League and Turkish interest in Lucumi

The report goes on to say that both Bournemouth and Sunderland are looking at Lucumi too, with the latter having made a move for him last year. In Turkiye, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray are supposedly interested in him too. Given the number of sides mentioned, it suggests that this is the earlier stages of interest, and perhaps comes from an agent.

Background on Jhon Lucumi

Barcelona were first linked with the 27-year-old in 2024, and Atletico Madrid have also been cited as an interested party within the last year. Left-footed and pacy, Lucumi xame through the esteemed Deportivo Cali youth system, before making a €2.5m move to KRC Genk in 2018. Four years ago, Bologna purchased him for €8m, and as Bologna have made progress into Europe, winning the Coppa Italia, Lucumi’s stock has risen.  He is also a regular in Colombia squads, and has earned 35 caps.