Liverpool are among the clubs tracking Alessandro Bastoni again, with TeamTalk reporting that the Inter Milan defender remains firmly on the shortlist of several elite sides ahead of future transfer windows.

The Italy international, now 27, has long been viewed as one of Europe’s standout central defenders. That status has only strengthened interest from across the continent, with Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Barcelona all said to be in the picture. Inter’s stance, however, appears clear. Any serious conversation would need to start at close to £70 million.

The report states that Bastoni “is once again on the radar of several leading European clubs”, while Chelsea and Liverpool are specifically said to be “maintaining their interest in the defender”. For Liverpool, that wording matters. It suggests this is not a fleeting check-in or loose admiration, it points to ongoing background work on a player who has been assessed in detail.

There is a clear logic to Liverpool’s interest. TeamTalk says the club “have already done significant work on Bastoni and continue to view him as an option as they prepare to move on from Virgil van Dijk”. That is a striking line, and one that frames Bastoni as part of longer-term succession planning rather than a market opportunity that has suddenly emerged.

The same report adds that “The Reds are looking at a number of defensive targets ahead of 2027 and Bastoni remains a player firmly on their radar.” In recruitment terms, that sounds exactly like the sort of process top clubs undertake when refreshing a key area of the squad. Liverpool may not be alone in the chase, but they clearly have a dossier built around the Inter man.

Bastoni’s profile is easy to understand. He is comfortable defending space, strong in duels, composed in possession and progressive with his passing. He has already shown he can operate at the highest level in Serie A and the Champions League, and his experience in a back three gives him valuable tactical flexibility. Even for clubs who defend differently, that combination of composure and athletic quality makes him highly attractive.

Chelsea’s interest also makes sense in the context of their current structure. TeamTalk notes that the London club “remain admirers as they continue to shape their defence under Xabi Alonso”. It adds that Chelsea “have moved towards a back-three system” and feel they “could still be short of the ideal central figure to operate in that structure”.

From that perspective, Bastoni looks almost tailor-made. The report says his “ability to defend in a back-three, while also possessing the technical quality and passing range to contribute in possession, would make him an obvious fit for Alonso’s system.” If Chelsea decide to push, they would do so with a strong tactical argument.