Tottenham and Chelsea are ready to do battle for Inter Milan centre-back Andrea Bastoni this summer, according to reports coming out of Italy.
Inter Milan finished second in the title race over in Italy, behind city rivals AC, and are expected to need to sell once more this summer to balance the book. Last summer, they parted ways with both Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi, and this transfer window it could be the turn of Bastoni.
MILAN, ITALY – MAY 22: Alessandro Bastoni of Inter reacts during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and UC Sampdoria at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 22, 2022 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
That is according to Italian outlet La Republicca, who report that ‘the defender is the top player from whom the money will come to build a competitive squad’. And, such is his worth, that he may be the only major outgoing at San Siro this summer, as they look to wrestle back the Scudetto next season.
Chelsea and Spurs to do battle
At present, it is Tottenham in the driving seat for the Italian defender, with the left-sided centre back having a strong relationship with Antonio Conte. The pair won the title together in 2020-21, and Bastoni was a key component of Conte’s side.
Now, he seems a perfect fit once more for the Italian, with a clear upgrade needed on Ben Davies in north London should Spurs be looking to seriously compete for nay silverware next season.
However, Chelsea are also in the race, having lost both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen this summer on free transfers. Thomas Tuchel is thought to ‘really like’ Bastoni, but following increasingly strong rumours around Jules Kounde, it is unclear whether the Blues can afford both.
It may all come together nicely for Tottenham.
