Barcelona given green light by club to negotiate with star defender | OneFootball

In recent weeks, Barcelona’s interest in central defender Alessandro Bastoni has crystallised. The Inter star is not enjoying a good period in Italian football, and after the Nerazzurri negotiations for a new deal with Bastoni hit the buffers, the Catalan giants appear to have stepped up their pursuit.

There is some debate over how much Inter will demand for Bastoni, with price tags being named between €50m and €70m for the 26-year-old. Perhaps more pertinently, there is also uncertainty Barcelona’s capacity to spend that amount and register Bastoni. Centre-back is still being described as their second priority for the summer transfer window, with a number nine seemingly the major desire in Can Barca.

Barcelona given green light to negotiate with Bastoni

According to GdS in Italy, as carried by MD, Barcelona have been given the green light by Inter to negotiate with Bastoni though. Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta and Sporting Director Piero Ausilio are open to the Blaugrana exploring a deal with the Italy international, and Barcelona are doing so with their permission. There is also some debate over the price tag in Italy. Inter are supposedly setting the asking price at €70-80m, but the same outlet suggests that a fixed price could be as low as €40-45m, with variables on top of that. Bastoni currently has two years left on his Inter deal.

Bastoni form benefitting Barcelona?

Bastoni is going through a difficult moment in his career currently. Described as one of the best defenders in the world en route to Inter’s Champions League final appearance last season, his form has dropped off this season, perhaps culminating in a first-half sending off against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Italy’s World Cup play-off defeat. His decline in form could well be aiding Barcelona’s negotiating attempts, as his stock drops on the market.