MANCHESTER UNITED and neighbours City are ready to battle it out for Inter Milan star Alessandro Bastoni.
The Italian international defender is under contract at the San Siro until 2024 and is yet to agree to an extension.
GettyAlessandro Bastoni is being chased by Man Utd and rivals City[/caption]
That means that Inter could be forced to try and cash in on the 23-year-old this summer rather than risk losing him for nothing the following year.
Tottenham and Chelsea have previously been linked with a swoop for Bastoni.
Now a fresh report from Fichajes claims that both United and City are keen on him too.
The Cityzens are believed to be preparing for the departure of Aymeric Laporte and want to bring in a replacement to challenge the likes of Manuel Akanji, John Stones, Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias.
Meanwhile, across the city, Erik ten Hag is also looking to strengthen his backline.
Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane have established themselves as his first-choice pairing this term, but benched duo Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof are likely to head out of the Old Trafford exit door.
And that has made Bastoni and attractive proposition for both clubs.
The ace joined Inter from Atalanta in 2017 and was immediately shipped back to Bergamo on loan.
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He then headed to Parma on a temporary basis a year later but he finally got his big break at the San Siro under Antonio Conte.
The ace helped the club to claim the Serie A title in the 2020/21 campaign and also lifted the Coppa Italia last season.
Bastoni is also playing a key role in Inter’s push for Champions League qualification with the club currently fifth and a point behind rivals AC Milan.