Italian journalist Alessandro Vocalelli believes that Inter should have serious second thoughts about selling defender Alessandro Bastoni this summer.

Writing for Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport in today’s print edition, Vocalelli outlined his rationale for why Bastoni could be a difficult player for the club to replace within the modern game.

With a big name sale looking to be all but inevitable at Inter during the summer transfer window, Bastoni has been the name most strongly linked with a departure in the last week or so.

The main factors behind the links are the fact that there is transfer interest in the 23-year-old from clubs in the Premier League capable of outlaying a huge transfer fee on him, and the Nerazzurri feeling that he could be the most straightforward of their high-value players to replace.

Vocalelli outlined his objection to the latter proposition, writing that “While understanding the financial requirements and the need for all teams to have to balance the rumours between entries and exits, I want to send a precise message – Inter, don’t sell Bastoni! For a variety of reasons.”

“First of all,” he continues, “in modern football it has paradoxically become easier to find attacking players at a good price. Maybe by paying their wages only [ie. a free transfer].”

“Secondly because everyone at the moment is looking for top-level defenders,” he goes on, “demonstrating that now they are worth as much as and perhaps even more than a centre-forward.”

“Moreover Alessandro Bastoni has all the characteristics to represent the future,” Vocalelli writes. “Before considering a sale of Bastoni, it would only be right to think about some other teammate or teammates more easily (or, less difficult) to replace “.

He argues that “Bastoni can be the Nerazzurri’s future in the next ten years and he will undoubtedly be for the ,Azzurri as well.”

“A strong marker, in this last year with Inzaghi he’s specialized even more in the buildup phase, ending up representing the solution to surprise athe opponent’s defensive scheme.”

He characterizes Bastoni as “Strong in one-on-one situation, skilled in the buildup phase and potentially even more decisive in the opponent’s penalty area.”