Inter Milan are accelerating contract extension talks with defender Alessandro Bastoni.
This according to Italian news outlet Gazzetta.it, who report that the Nerazzurri are increasingly pushing to get a new deal agreed with the 23-year-old, as they don’t want to wait much longer so that a situation like that of Milan Skriniar is avoided next season.
Bastoni’s contract with Inter runs out at the end of June 2024, but the club have no intention of letting him get anywhere near that point without a new deal in hand.
So much so, in fact, that it has been reported that the Nerazzurri could decide to sell the defender during the summer transfer window in the event that he does not pen a new deal soon.
In any event, the 23-year-old’s agent has made clear that the Bastoni’s priority is to stay at the club.
However, the question of wages is set to be decisive, and progress has already been made in the most recent meeting between the Nerazzurri and the player’s agent Tullio Tinti.
Bastoni currently earns €4 million net per season when all add-ons are factored in, but the player is seeking a pay increase to €5.5 million net per season plus add-ons to reflect his stature in the team.
For their part, Inter’s initial offer was for an increase of the base amount to €4 million, before any add-ons, with a basic wage increase with every year.
However, the Gazzetta reports, in the most recent meeting the Nerazzurri’s initial offer already crept up by an additional €500,000 net per season prior to add-ons.
There is also the question of the duration of a new deal for Bastoni, either until the end of June 2027 or the end of June 2028 to be decided on.
Moreover, Inter want Bastoni’s new deal to take effect at the end of July, whilst the player and his representatives are keen for it to take effect earlier.
In any event, the Gazzetta reports, Inter are ready to accelerate the talks in the hopes that they can get a new deal done in short order, in view of Bastoni’s outstanding performances this season and the mounting interest in him.
The likes of Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, and Juventus have all been reportedly following Bastoni’s contract situation at Inter, and would consider a move for him should he become available.