Barcelona know exactly who they want to sign to strengthen the defence this summer. Alessandro Bastoni remains the leading name on the shortlist, and inside the club he is still seen as the ideal profile to upgrade the back line. But the operation is no longer moving smoothly, and the situation has reached a delicate point.
Barça have already made an initial move with an offer close to €45 million. The response from Inter was immediate and firm. In Italy, the message is clear: Bastoni will not leave for less than €60 million.
And that is where the whole story starts to change.
Barcelona do not want a bidding war
Inside the club, there is a very clear stance. Barcelona are not willing to lose control of the deal by entering an inflated auction for Bastoni. The sporting department believe the current asking price is too high and does not fit the club’s financial reality.
Deco wants a top defensive signing, but not at any cost. The priority is to improve the squad without damaging the economic balance again. Because of that, Barça have already drawn a line in the negotiations.
If Inter refuse to soften their position, the club are prepared to move on. That message has already been sent internally.
Bastoni remains the dream target
Barcelona have been working on this operation for months. Bastoni is admired for all the qualities the club are looking for in a modern centre-back: he is left-footed, composed in possession, experienced and capable of leading from the back.
That combination makes him a natural fit for the defensive structure Barça want to build for the coming years. There have also already been contacts with the player’s camp, and the feeling is that there is openness on that side.
But the key issue remains the same. Everything depends on an agreement between clubs, and right now that part of the operation is stuck.
Jhon Lucumí has emerged as the alternative
With Bastoni’s price becoming such a major obstacle, Barcelona have activated a serious fallback option. The name gaining strength is Jhon Lucumí, the Bologna centre-back, who is once again firmly on the club’s radar.
He is not a new discovery for Barça. The club had already followed him in the past, and his current situation makes him a much more realistic market opportunity. Lucumí is under contract until 2027 and has not renewed, which could make his departure much easier to negotiate.
That alone already makes the operation more attractive from Barcelona’s point of view.
A far more viable deal for Barça
The biggest advantage is the cost. Lucumí could be signed for around €25 million, a figure far more manageable for Barcelona than the amount Inter are demanding for Bastoni.
That price difference changes everything. If Inter continue to hold firm, Lucumí becomes not just an alternative, but a very serious candidate to arrive. Deco does not want to waste weeks in a deadlocked negotiation while other opportunities remain open.
The priority is to close a defensive reinforcement as soon as possible, and Barcelona do not want to be left paralysed by one impossible deal.
Inter now hold the key
The situation is now very clear. Barcelona still prefer Bastoni, but they are no longer relying exclusively on that operation. The club already have another route prepared in case the negotiations with Inter go nowhere.
If the Italian side lower their demands, the Bastoni deal could come back to life. If not, Barça are ready to push hard for Lucumí.
At this point, the next move does not depend only on Barcelona. The ball is now in Inter’s court.
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