Premier League champions Liverpool have joined the race to sign Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Italian centre-back is expected to leave the club at the end of the season, with Inter said to be open to a sale as they look to raise funds and reinvest in their squad.
Bastoni joined Inter Milan from Atalanta in 2017 and has grown into a key figure for the club and one of the most standout defenders in the league.
According to reports from Goal, Liverpool are the latest club to show concrete interest in the defender as they aim to strengthen their backline ahead of next season.
French defender Ibrahima Konate could leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season if no extension is agreed, while Joe Gomez’s future also remains unclear.
Captain Virgil Van Dijk is also approaching the latter stages of his career, with his current contract set to expire at the end of next season and the club have begun to plan ahead for his potential departure.
Liverpool have already brought in younger options, with the additions of Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet, but are keen to add experience and quality to their ranks.
The six-time European champions also have other options on their shortlist, as they are keeping tabs on Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck according to our previous reports, as well as Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Micky van de Ven.
However, they will face serious competition from Spanish giants Barcelona, who have also shown serious interest in signing the Italian defender.
Champions League qualification could be key, but if the transfer goes through, Liverpool would be adding a top defender who can improve their backline for the long term.
