Press reports have indicated that Manchester United is interested in signing Italian defender Alessandro Bastoni, a player for Inter Milan, during the summer transfer window of 2026, according to journalist Ekrem Konur on the "X" platform.

Bastoni, aged 26, is considered one of the top defenders in the Italian league. He has won the league title twice with Inter and received the award for the best defender in Serie A for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 seasons. He also won the Euro 2020 title with the Italian national team. He is under contract with his club until 2028, but sources have indicated that he might be ready to experience playing outside Italy this summer.

Manchester United's interest in the player comes as part of the club's efforts to strengthen their defense in preparation for the next season, amid internal competition among options like Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, Lenny Yoro, and Lisandro Martinez.

Sources confirmed that Manchester United will face strong competition from major clubs such as Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Barcelona, and Real Madrid in a deal that may require a large financial sum to complete.

The report clarified that Bastoni is happy to stay at Inter and in Italy, but he sees 2026 as an ideal opportunity to experience playing abroad, especially since he is at the peak of his performance and is currently considered one of the best defenders in the world.