Chelsea and Liverpool chase elite £70m centre back – transfer may need more than just money
Chelsea and Liverpool are being linked with Alessandro Bastoni, but right now it’s hard to see a deal being worth it for Inter.
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TeamTalk are reporting on transfer interest in one of the best players in his positions in the world.
Alessandro Bastoni is regarded as one of football’s best centre backs, and is constantly linked with moves away from Inter. Barcelona seemed close to signing him this summer.
Now Chelsea and Liverpool are the teams being linked with the 27 year old Italy international.
“Bastoni’s ability to defend in a back-three, while also possessing the technical quality and passing range to contribute in possession, would make him an obvious fit for Xabi Alonso’s system,” they point out.
That’s why Chelsea would want him – but would he want Chelsea? We’re not so sure.
Chelsea and Liverpool want elite defender – but Inter and player must both be persuaded
It’s clear why Bastoni has been a top target for big clubs for a long time. And you’d have to be crazy to rule out a Premier League move eventually.
But right now, it’s hard to see a move coming together. At Inter he’s competing for the league and in the Champions League. He’s a leader and loved by the fans. At Chelsea he won’t get that. At Liverpool there are no guarantees either.
Inter, meanwhile, aren’t under immense pressure to sell such a key figure, one whose loss they know would devastate their long term aspirations of winning things. The £70m they would get for him simply doesn’t sound worth what it costs their team on the pitch.
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From Spain: Barcelona back in for Erling Haaland transfer following Man City charges news
Barcelona are reportedly monitoring Erling Haaland as a potential transfer target again after yesterday’s big Manchester City news.
The Norway international has long been on Barca’s radar, with the Catalan giants losing veteran front-man Robert Lewandowski at the end of his contract this summer.
No new signing has come in so far, and talkSPORT recently linked Barcelona with an interest in both Harry Kane and Haaland.
The latest from Fichajes is that Barcelona are hoping to pounce on uncertainty over Haaland’s future after the news of City being found guilty of 114 of 115 charges made against them.
Can Barcelona afford Erling Haaland transfer?
However, it’s worth remembering that City can and will surely appeal whatever punishment comes their way, which could mean there’s still no real clarity on what it means for the club for a few more years.
Haaland has no relegation clause, according to Sport, so there isn’t an easy or affordable way for Barca or anyone else to try to sign the 26-year-old regardless of the big news yesterday.
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One imagines, however, that players will surely be concerned about their futures at the Etihad Stadium after such serious wrongdoings were found to have taken place.
MCFC will continue to protest their innocence, however, so that leaves Barcelona needing to find cash for an ambitious signing like this.
One imagines the La Liga champions would need to make some sales to afford both the transfer fee and wages for Haaland.
It could be worth going all in for a potential game-changer signing like this, though, as Haaland has long looked like one of the most lethal finishers in world football.
The former Borussia Dortmund man has 169 goals in 205 games for City, and he’d surely score at an even more prolific rate in Spain.
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“I cannot do that” – Man City chairman breaks his silence after stunning 114 guilty charges news
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has released a statement responding to the news his club are about to be found guilty on almost charges.
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Last night David Ornstein dropped the bomb that Manchester City are going to be found guilty on 114 of the 115 charges against them for breaking Premier League financial rules.
As you’d expect, that led to a hectic 12 hours of reaction and speculation. But Man City themselves stayed very quiet. Now, finally we have a statement from their chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak. It doesn’t reveal much, but it certainly shows there’s no change in their stance.
Man City respond to news of incoming guilty verdicts
“The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the Club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began,” Al Mubarak begins.
“There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position. But the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means I cannot do that.”
He points fans to another statement that was put out by the club:
“The Club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”
It’s hard to know what to make of that. It goes with just what you’d expect: we’re innocent, we just can’t quite explain why yet.
There are many appeals and much back and forth still to come.
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