Tottenham: Paratici 'going after' £50m defender at Hotspur Way

Tottenham Hotspur are ‘going after’ Inter Milan star Alessandro Bastoni after he has been identified as ‘the one they would want’ to bolster their backline, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Spurs are preparing for a return to Champions League football after finishing the 2021/22 campaign in the Premier League’s top four, and it is clear that head coach Antonio Conte wants Bastoni to join him at Hotspur Way.

Tottenham have suffered a blow in their pursuit of Bastoni as, according to the Evening Standard, the Italian is eager to remain on Inter’s books.

According to the report, the 11-cap Italy international has been made Conte’s top target as he looks to improve his back three ahead of next term.

Welcoming a left-sided central defender to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is a priority and Bastoni was among a string of options identified in April.

But Spurs are not the only Premier League club tracking Bastoni and mulling over a move as Manchester United are keen.

The 23-year-old is valued by his current employers at £50million and they are in a strong negotiating position thanks to his £122,000-per-week San Siro contract still having two years remaining.

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Jones understands that Tottenham are fully focused on bolstering their defence by luring Bastoni to north London.

The transfer insider feels Fabio Paratici, who was appointed as Spurs’ managing director last summer, is working to convince his fellow countryman to head to the Premier League club.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “Bastoni is clearly the one they’re going after at Tottenham at the moment.

“It’s hard to look beyond that and it’s clearly a prime position