Manchester City ‘keeping tabs’ on Inter Milan star amid rivalled Real Madrid interest and Serie A ‘budgetary’ problems

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have been linked with a potential fresh approach for Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni.

The 24-year-old, who started last season’s UEFA Champions League Final between Manchester City and Inter Milan in Istanbul, was recently part of the Inter side that were crowned Serie A champions for the first time since 2021.

Bastoni has featured heavily for Simone Inzaghi throughout the current campaign, making 34 appearances across four different competitions, including both the Serie A and Champions League.

The centre-back has been subject to previous links away from the Italian top-flight, with Inter Milan facing the prospect of being forced into selling a number of their top players as a result of continued ‘budgetary’ problems.

Lautaro Martinez, Nicolo Barella and Marcus Thuram have also been linked with a potential summer exit from the San Siro, however it is central defender Bastoni, who is reportedly being eyed by Manchester City.

The Italian international has been at Inter Milan since 2017, but enjoyed a series of loan spells at Atalanta and Parma prior to becoming a first-team regular with the Nerazzurri.

Etihad officials are ‘keeping tabs’ on the 24-year-old according to Tuttosport via FcInterNews, with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola a ‘keen admirer’ of the Inter Milan defender.

The Sky Blues are rivalled by Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti, with the La Liga heavyweights having a similar interest in signing the centre-back, who could be available for upwards of €80 million this summer.

Talks regarding Bastoni could have taken place earlier this month, with Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio having been present at the Etihad Stadium for Manchester City’s penalty shoot-out loss to Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Manchester City currently have a series of central defensive options, and completed the £77.6 million signing of Croatian international Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig last summer.

A number of centre-backs have been linked with the east Manchester club ahead of the summer transfer window, with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite amongst the defender’s rumoured to be under consideration by the Blues.