Tottenham Hotspur are still trying to sign Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni despite being told that he is not for sale, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.
The Lowdown: Top target
The 23-year-old has emerged as one of Antonio Conteâs top targets as a left-sided centre-back this summer after it was revealed by Sky Sports that Spursâ pursuit had progressed, with talks ongoing between the two clubs.
However, Lilywhites chief Fabio Paratici suffered a serious blow in his negotiations when Bastoniâs agent Tullio Tinti revealed that his player âwill certainly remain at Interâ after he met with the Serie A clubâs directors.
The Latest: Shethâs claim
Nonetheless, Sheth doesnât believe that Tottenhamâs chances of signing Bastoni are completely dead.
In an interview with GiveMeSport, he claimed: “The Bastoni one is a very interesting one because Tottenham are still pushing to sign Bastoni from Inter Milan.
“It should be said, Inter Milan do not want to lose him, and the agent has come out and said heâs happy at Inter Milan, heâs not going anywhere, but is that a screen where Inter Milan protect their investments so if they do sell, they get the maximum amount of money?”
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The Verdict: He’d be a good fit
Described by Italian football expert Conor Clancy as a âphenomenalâ defender, Bastoniâs underlying statistics clearly illustrate why Tottenham are so keen on securing his signature.
When compared with positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, the 23-year-old ranks in the 99th percentile for progressive passes received and the 97th percentile for shot-creating actions (via FBRef).
Considering Conteâs preferred three-at-the-back formation, these figures suggest that Bastoni would slot into Spursâ back-line with ease, playing on the left-hand side of the defence.
Whilst the transfer currently seems unlikely, Interâs financial issues could force them into selling some of their most prized assets, so some hope remains in Paraticiâs pursuit of the defender.
In other news:Â This âmassiveâ Tottenham transfer news has prompted plenty of media reaction
