Tottenham Hotspur and Antonio Conte have reportedly been dealt a major setback in their pursuit of Inter Milan star Alessandro Bastoni.
According to London Evening Standard, Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a heavy blow in their pursuit of Inter Milan star Alessandro Bastoni in the summer transfer window.
The 23-year-old Italian international was a first-team regular under Antonio Conte during his reign at the Giuseppe Meazza, playing a role in Inter’s 2021/21 championship-winning campaign. He continued to impress under Simone Inzaghi and has gone from strength to strength in Serie A.
Adept at playing on the left side of a three-man backline, Bastoni would be an excellent addition to the current roster. A 3-5-2 is Conte’s trademark system, and he is determined to implement it at Tottenham.
Unfortunately, any plans the Tottenham boss might have had of landing the 23-year-old Italian international are proving difficult given the player’s stance. Bastoni’s agent has now confirmed that his client is keen to stay put with the Nerazzurri with whom he has a contract running until 2024.
This is a significant setback for Spurs, who were eyeing the Italian as their priority target in defence. Tottenham have already raided Inter once this summer, landing veteran wing-back Ivan Perisic on a Bosman deal. The Croatian international formed an excellent partnership with Bastoni on the left side and could have replicated it at N-17.
More so, Bastoni could also have been part of an exciting project that is now beginning to take shape. Unfortunately, the Italian moving to North London appears to be a no go this summer. This has forced Tottenham to look elsewhere. Conte and Fabio Paratici are now eyeing alternatives such as Pau Torres and Gleison Bremer. Both players are more than solid enough to anchor the Spurs’ defence and can do a job for them in the seasons to come.
One can argue that Tottenham have an excellent chance of landing Bastoni in a year. He will then have just a year left on his deal at the Giuseppe Meazza, and Inter might risk losing him on a free unless he signs a new deal. However, it all depends on whether a centre-back is still on Tottenham’s agenda at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.
