Manchester City and Manchester United can expect to be quoted a fee of €52m (£46.5m) to sign Inter Milan centre-back Alessandro Bastoni this summer, according to a report.
The 24-year-old is yet to extend his deal with the Nerazzurri beyond the end of next season, despite his vocal desire to continue in the blue and black jersey.
Having emerged as one of the continent's leading centre-backs during his time at San Siro, a host of clubs are waiting to pounce on any uncertainty surrounding his contract situation.
Tottenham Hotspur - then under the tutelage of Bastoni's former manager Antonio Conte - were heavily linked with a move for the 24-year-old last summer, but his agent ruled out an exit from Inter.
The defender is keen to extend his contract with Simone Inzaghi's side, but no agreement has been struck yet, and he could walk away as a free agent in 2024 as things stand - putting the likes of Man City and Man United on red alert.
© Reuters
Inter are expected to step up contract talks with Bastoni when the season ends, but they could be pressured into a sale this summer in order to avoid losing him on a free, as will be the case with Paris Saint-Germain-bound Milan Skriniar.
Should Inter ultimately fail to shake hands on a renewal with Bastoni, Fichajes claims that the Italian giants will demand at least €52m (£46.5m) to let the centre-back leave.
Neither Manchester club would have any problem forking out Inter's asking price, and Bastoni could also expect a higher wage in the Premier League, especially given the Nerazzurri's economic concerns.
The Italian's salary is thought to be the main roadblock in negotiations with Inter, as a separate report from Gazzetta dello Sport claims that he is after a yearly wage of €5.5m (£4.9m), whereas the Nerazzurri have only tabled a €4m (£3.6m) offer without add-ons.
Bastoni graduated from the Atalanta BC youth academy to earn a €31.1m (£27.8m) move to Inter in 2017, although he was loaned back out to La Dea and Parma before making his first-team breakthrough.
© Reuters
The 24-year-old has come up with three goals and 14 assists in 151 matches in an Inter jersey, setting up six goals in 33 games from the heart of the backline this season.
Man City will be in the market for a new centre-back if the out-of-favour Aymeric Laporte departs, and Bastoni would be a cheaper alternative to RB Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol.
Meanwhile, Man United are set to lose Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe this summer, while doubts also persist over the futures of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, the latter of whom has been tipped to sign for Inter.
The Red Devils were dealt a devastating defensive blow on Friday evening, as it was confirmed that Lisandro Martinez would miss the rest of the season with a fractured metatarsal sustained in Thursday's Europa League clash with Sevilla.
Raphael Varane also came off with a foot problem in that quarter-final first-leg draw, but there is hope that the Frenchman will play again before the campaign concludes.
Ben Knapton
