Liverpool ‘prepare’ £88m bid for centre back labelled ‘one of the best in the world’

Liverpool are reportedly ready to break the bank to bring in a highly-rated centre back to fix their defensive problems, either in January or next summer

Liverpool’s spending this season could be set to rise above £500m

Liverpool are reportedly lining up a major swoop for Inter Milan centre back Alessandro Bastoni as they aim to strengthen their defensive options. The Reds have been left vulnerable at the back after Giovanni Leoni’s lengthy injury layoff and their unsuccessful chase of Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, leading them to renew their focus on Bastoni as a potential solution.

Deportivo, Liverpool are preparing an £88million offer for the 26-year-old, who has been praised by Italian legend Giorgio Chiellini as “one of the best defenders” in the game.

“I know Alessandro well, he is one of the strongest central defenders around and for me, he is among the best in the world,” Chiellini said in 2023. “He is a player that Italy will be able to count on for many years, he just needs to continue working and maintaining the desire to improve.”

A move for Bastoni could be attempted as soon as January, though Liverpool are reportedly willing to wait until the summer if required – a decision that might prove important considering Ibrahima Konate’s uncertain future, with his current contract set to expire at the end of the season.

Should the deal exceed £80m, Alessandro Bastoni would become the most expensive defender of all time. Harry Maguire currently holds that distinction after his £80m transfer from Leicester to Manchester United in 2019.

Josko Gvardiol follows in second with his £77m move from RB Leipzig to Manchester City in 2023, while Virgil van Dijk’s £75m transfer from Southampton to Liverpool in 2018 remains third on the list.

Whether he truly merits such a price tag is open to discussion, but Bastoni’s talent is undeniable. A calm, left-footed defender, he blends power, composure and refined distribution skills, making him an ideal fit for a possession-based team.

A standout performer in Serie A, Bastoni has been included in the league’s Team of the Year three times over the past five seasons. He was vital to Inter’s title triumphs in 2020/21 and 2023/24 and played a major role in their journeys to the Champions League finals in both 2023 and 2025.

Alessandro Bastoni could be on his way to Liverpool next year

Liverpool are in pressing need of defensive solidity after a shaky start to the campaign. Arne Slot’s men have already conceded 17 goals in their opening 11 league fixtures – a sharp rise compared to the six they had allowed at the same point last season.

Their defensive frailties have been compounded by a turbulent transfer window, during which Trent Alexander-Arnold departed and full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez – who have been unimpressive so far – were brought in.

After spending more than £450m on new arrivals, many feel that the flood of signings has contributed to their erratic and disjointed form. Whether spending big again will solve the issue remains uncertain – but if Bastoni performs as expected, Liverpool may find the investment entirely justified.

Two sources reveal chances of Antoine Semenyo to Liverpool in January after star ‘asks to leaves

Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo is drawing admiring glances from Liverpool

Liverpool have learned their chances of a January move for Antoine Semenyo amid strong new claims that he asked to leave Bournemouth ahead of the winter window, while further details can be provided on the player’s release clause.

The 25-year-old has proved himself one of the best players in the Premier League so far this season, enjoying nine goal contributions (six scored, three assists) from his 11 appearances in the competition so far. But despite only signing a new and improved contract with Bournemouth over the summer, speculation over Semenyo‘s future has been widespread over recent weeks.

To that end, it was claimed last week that the summer target for Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United was set to be the subject of fresh interest from Liverpool in the winter window and that the Reds – who have been having a poor season by their standards – were ready to test the water with a firm bid, reportedly worth north of £70m (€79m, $92m).

Now their chances of bringing the free-scoring Ghana international winger to Anfield in January have gathered serious pace after a notorious X account made up of ‘five elite reporters’ and which boasts 684k followers, claimed that Semenyo has now requested to leave Bournemouth in the winter.

The account wrote: ‘Exclusive. Antoine Semenyo has asked to leave Bournemouth in January.’

However, after conducting some research into that report, we can reveal that the prospects of a January move to Anfield look extremely bleak as things stand.

And while there is a release clause in his deal, which Bournemouth are keeping a closely guarded secret, there is also no certainty that it would become active in the winter window.

“I don’t think he will leave in January because from my current understanding of the situation, the clause in his contract would not be live at that stage,” began Jones. “I also don’t believe Bournemouth have any interest in allowing it to happen in that moment.

“The update out of Bournemouth remains that the player is satisfied with his status because of their strong start to the season, but of course, that does not mean he will not look to change things long-term.

“In terms of the figures around his clause, they are continuing to remain secretive around it, but I was told recently that it is in the mid-60s. So we will have to wait and see on that.

“It is unconfirmed at this stage and there also remains a lack of clarity around when the clause would even kick in, so the situation is going to linger for a while.”

READ MORE 🔴 Liverpool to ‘push the button’ on huge January deal for red-hot star as dramatic Salah decision is reached – report

Liverpool interest in Semenyo genuine as Fabrizio Romano weighs in

Despite that, a number of sources, including the Daily Mail’s Lewis Steele, has confirmed Liverpool’s interest in the player is genuine and that he remains a player of serious interest to sporting director Richard Hughes as the Reds prepare for life beyond the talismanic Mohamed Salah.

Furthermore, there already seems an acceptance at the Vitality Stadium that retaining Semenyo’s services beyond this season could prove difficult.

Jones continued: “Even at Bournemouth, there is a realisation that beyond this season, keeping Semenyo is going to be extremely difficult.

“In terms of true valuation, I’d say he’s worth anywhere between £70m-£100m.”

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano also thinks a January deal for Semenyo looks unlikely, and he expects Liverpool to keep their powder dry through the winter window.

“I don’t think it is going to be a mid-season departure, I don’t think it is going to be with Liverpool,” Romano told the Market Madness podcast last week.

“I think Liverpool is going to be very quiet in the January window. In the summer, it can be different.

“I still want to respect Bournemouth, let them enjoy the player. It is still November and they are not planning for him to leave in January.

“There is a lot of interest in the player and there is a release clause, so it is a super interesting situation but I think it is for the summer window. For January, it is very unlikely.”

Latest Liverpool news: Top target ‘on way to Anfield’;

There is better news, however, for the Reds over the future of another top 2026 transfer target in Marc Guehi, amid strong new claims in the Spanish media that stated the England defender has informed Real Madrid of his desire to move to Anfield next year and with Los Blancos’ take on the saga also coming to light.

Jamie Carragher, though, thinks Reds boss Arne Slot needs to be a bit more clever in his transfer thinking and he suggests his efforts to bring ‘sexy football’ to the champions has completely backfired, and having torn into the Dutchman’s failure to see which way the game in England was going.

Off the back of that, we’ve assessed Slot’s first nine signings at Anfield and compared them to Jurgen Klopp’s first nine – and the difference is quite striking.

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Exclusives

Liverpool could now accept ‘big’ Ibrahima Konate January offer

Ibrahima Konate has been heavily linked with a move away from Liverpool since the summer window with speculation now ramping up again.

Arne Slot’s side lost 3-0 to Man City last time out, and Konate was slammed by Liverpool fans for his display, with many calling for him to leave.

The France international has less than a year remaining on his contract and, unless progress is made in contract talks, looks likely to leave next summer.

Football Insider revealed on 5 October that Liverpool are still in talks with Konate over a new deal, but the lack of progress has led to concerns about his future.

As a result, there is a growing feeling the centre-back will leave Anfield soon, with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich aiming to tempt him away from England.

Ibrahima Konate in red Liverpool shirt looking serious

Credit: Getty Images

Liverpool could accept Ibrahima Konate offer in January

Football Insider revealed on 26 October that Konate is edging closer to leaving Liverpool after stalls in their contract talks, with a move now more likely than not.

While a pre-contract agreements seems most likely as things stand, Liverpool could be tempted to accept an offer for the centre-back during the January window.