Barcelona are working on reinforcing their defence, and their interest in Alessandro Bastoni is now turning into something more concrete.
The Italian centre-back, currently a key figure at Inter Milan, has emerged as one of Barcelona’s top targets.
However, the operation is far from straightforward, as Inter have reportedly set a clear valuation for Bastoni, placing his price between €70 million and €80 million.
That figure alone makes it one of the most difficult deals Barcelona could attempt this summer, especially given their ongoing financial balancing.
As a result, Barcelona are now exploring alternative ways to structure the transfer.
A player plus cash deal
Recent developments suggest that Bastoni’s representatives have already initiated contact with Barcelona to discuss potential contractual terms.
While that signals intent from the player’s side, the financial gap remains the biggest obstacle.
To bridge that gap, Calciomercato reports that Barcelona are considering including players in the deal, effectively turning it into a part-exchange plus cash agreement.
In that regard, two names have emerged as potential candidates.
Barcelona are quite serious about Bastoni. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The first is Dani Olmo. The attacking midfielder is admired by Inter and is seen as a player who could offer tactical flexibility.
The second option is Ferran Torres.
A versatile forward capable of playing across multiple attacking positions, Torres represents a different kind of asset, one that adds depth and variation in the final third.
From Barcelona’s perspective, both players are not entirely untouchable.
This is because Olmo, despite his quality, has found himself slipping down the pecking order, with Fermin Lopez emerging as a preferred option in Flick’s plans.
Meanwhile, Ferran, after a promising start, has struggled to maintain consistency and has lost ground to Robert Lewandowski in key moments.
This situation makes both players viable pieces in negotiations.
For Inter, while Bastoni remains central to their project, any deal would need to justify both the financial and sporting impact.
For Barcelona, though, it is more about managing the finances.
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