Liverpool Turn to Alessandro Bastoni After Being Pipped to Marc Guehi’s Signature By Manchester City

Alessandro Bastoni will, once again, be at the very top of summer wishlists amongst Europe’s elite, but it is Liverpool who are now showing the most urgency in their pursuit of a Marc Guehi alternative.

Liverpool’s well-documented pursuit of a new centre-back hit a new low last week, after Manchester City pipped them to their chief target Marc Guehi.

Having negotiated hard to agree a fee for the Crystal Palace captain on transfer deadline day in the summer, the club performed a spectacular U-turn after failing to land a replacement in time.

Liverpool feared not, however. The Reds have remained quietly confident that Guehi would eventually join for free in the summer of 2026, when his Palace contract eventually runs out.

However, Liverpool could not have foreseen Manchester City’s new-found desperation for defensive reinforcements, having been rocked by injuries to Ruben Dias, John Stones and Josko Gvardiol in recent weeks.

That accelerated City’s interest in Guehi, and they ultimately forced Palace’s hand into accepting a modest £20 million fee, rather than letting him walk for free come the summer.

It leaves Liverpool’s transfer chiefs red-faced, and scrambling to find a suitable Marc Guehi alternative.

Liverpool’s Marc Guehi Alternative is Alessandro Bastoni

Liverpool were prepared to play the waiting game until the summer in order to land Marc Guehi, so it is unlikely they will be pursuing an alternative in the January window.

It is clear there is an appetite to bring in a level-raiser, and while Guehi’s signature would have offered that for free, Liverpool remain in a comfortable enough financial position to find alternatives.

Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni has emerged as their chief target, with the 26-year-old believed to be open to a move away from his native Italy.

That is despite playing down exit rumours, insisting he is happy at Inter. There is an acceptance that Inter would likely accept a substantial bid if it came in, while Bastoni, still only 26, would be keen to sample a league beyond Serie A.

Arne Slot’s preference is for a left-footed, progressive centre-back who can offer qualities similar to captain Virgil Van Dijk.

Bastoni fits the billing, having shown himself to be one of Europe’s most effective ball-playing defenders. The Italy international typifies what it means to be a modern centre-back, balancing aggressive numbers in ground duels with deep-lying playmaking.

Inter Milan are no strangers to interest in Bastoni, but there is a consensus that this season may well be his last in Milan. The club  extended his contract to 2028 three years ago, meaning they can still command a substantial fee of around £80m, if they were to sell him this summer.

Interest in Bastoni from Barcelona has been a constant since Ronald Araujo’s break from the team, while Chelsea are also said to be admirers. Their attention is firmly fixed on completing a deal for Rennes’ Jeremy Jacquet, however.