Inter Milan have already started lining up replacements for Barcelona’s priority defensive target – Report | OneFootball

That FC Barcelona need a new central defender in the upcoming summer transfer window is no secret. The club have been extremely thin in this department and, if not for Hansi Flick reinventing Gerard Martin as a centre-back, they would have been in a royal fix.

One player the club seem to have at the top of their list is Inter Milan star Alessandro Bastoni. Now, according to SPORT, Inter have already begun studying possible alternatives in case Bastoni leaves this summer. The Nerazzurri are now more open than before to a sale and could listen to offers in the region of €50 million plus bonuses.

The Italian is Barcelona’s priority target for the left-sided centre-back role, which makes sense given his profile. He is left-footed, comfortable carrying the ball forward, and experienced enough to improve the defence immediately.

Inter’s shift is the most interesting part. Bastoni remains one of their key defenders, but the financial logic has reportedly changed. He is valuable, still in his prime, and one of the few players whose sale could bring in the kind of fee that helps reshape the squad without requiring a complete rebuild.

That is why the idea of replacements being considered now feels significant. For Barcelona fans, this is where hope meets reality. Bastoni looks like a near-perfect stylistic fit, but that does not make the deal easy. Even the lower reported fee would still be a major operation for Barca, and competition from the Premier League could quickly complicate things.

Still, Inter planning ahead is not a small detail. It is the first step towards Barcelona believing they have a chance of landing Bastoni, despite their current financial situation. However, there is still a long way to go in this transfer saga.

If Inter are truly preparing for life after Bastoni, the door may be open a little wider than before. Whether Deco and co. take advantage of this opportunity remains to be seen.