Gianluca Di Marzio has dropped an update on reported Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Alessandro Bastoni.

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Transfer Focus

In a recent article posted on his own website, the Italian journalist revealed that, despite Fabio Paratici and Antonio Conte being reported to have been plotting an offer for the 23-year-old for a number of months, it is Manchester United who have now made a concrete move for the Inter Milan centre-back.

In his piece, Di Marzio wrote: "Alessandro Bastoni is very popular in the Premier League: Antonio Conte's Tottenham have already started contact both with Inter and with the player, without, however, formulating a precise offer yet. Not only that: in the last hours also Manchester United have been moving for the 23-year-old Nerazzurri central defender."

Conte will be fuming

Considering just how perfect a fit Bastoni appears to be for the left centre-back role in Conte's backline, in addition to the fact that Tottenham have been plotting a move for the Italy international for a considerable amount of time, Di Marzio's claim that Manchester United have now made a move for the defender is sure to have left the 52-year-old Spurs coach fuming.

With the signing of a new left-footed central defender reported to be the Italian's priority target ahead of the new Premier League season, it is not difficult to understand why Paratici has identified the 23-year-old as Tottenham's first-choice option this summer.

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Indeed, over his 31 Serie A appearances in 2021/22, the £60m-rated talent was imperious in Simone Inzaghi's three-man defence, helping the Nerazzurri keep eight clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.1 interceptions, 1.4 tackles, 1.8 clearances and winning 4.1 duels - at a success rate of 60% - per game.

The £122k-per-week youngster also impressed in an attacking capacity, scoring one goal, registering three assists and creating four big chances for his teammates, in addition to completing an average of 50.5 passes, 4.0 long balls, 0.4 dribbles and 0.5 key passes per fixture.

These metrics saw the 14-time capped international average a rather remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.10, ranking him as Inter's second-best performing defender and eighth-best player overall in the league last time out.

As such, should Paratici end up missing out on a £54m deal for Batstoni to Manchester United this summer, it would undoubtedly come as a gutting blow to Conte - not only as this would mean Tottenham will need to turn their attention in the transfer market to an alternative target, but also as the 23-year-old would be lining up for a direct rival next season.

AND in other news: Paratici could unearth Salah 2.0 as Spurs now plot bid for "dangerous" £60m sensation