Barcelona is close to entering official negotiations to sign Italian defender Alessandro Bastoni, after the player gave his initial approval to the transfer during the upcoming transfer window.

According to journalist Luis Rojo, the player has given the green light to start negotiations with Inter Milan, moving the deal to the discussion phase between the two clubs.

For his part, Fabrizio Romano explained that Bastoni has become one of Barcelona's top priorities to strengthen their defense, amid the club management's recent moves. The sporting director Deco has made several visits to Milan to try to bridge the gap in perspectives.

Although Inter is open to the idea of selling the player, the club's management does not intend to accept an offer of 50 million euros, as they aim to secure around 70 million euros to complete the deal.

Barcelona's interest in signing Bastoni comes amid uncertainty about the future of defender Andreas Christensen, prompting the club to seek strong reinforcements in the backline.

On the other hand, Barcelona faces challenges related to financial fair play rules, but it seeks to achieve a balance that allows it to operate under a 1:1 ratio during the summer transfer window.

The club has also set several alternative options in case the deal falls through, including signing Nico Schlotterbeck, the Borussia Dortmund defender, and Micky van de Ven, the Tottenham Hotspur player, as well as the young Luka Vuskovic, the Hamburg defender.