Barcelona plan to put two players up for sale if Alessandro Bastoni signing goes through

Barcelona’s summer window is already taking shape inside the offices of Camp Nou, and Director of Football Deco has drawn up a scenario in which the arrival of Inter centre-back Alessandro Bastoni would immediately trigger exits elsewhere in the squad. Catalan daily Sport report that the Italian international is the primary defensive target; if the deal crosses the line, a “domino effect” will see at least two defenders made available for transfer.

The first of those players is Andreas Christensen. Despite a January offer of a new contract—one that entails a sizeable pay cut—the Denmark international has yet to put pen to paper and continues to weigh his options. Barcelona’s intention is clear: should Bastoni arrive, Christensen will be placed on the market. Failure to agree terms would simply see the 27-year-old leave on a free when his current deal expires.

Further down the defensive hierarchy, Barça Atlètic captain Álvaro Cortés is also braced for news. The Spain U-21 international, who signed from Real Zaragoza in 2024 and recently extended his commitment through 2028, has skippered Juliano Belletti’s side for much of the campaign and trained intermittently with the first team. Bastoni’s signature would push Cortés to the periphery of Xavi’s plans, and club sources say a loan or permanent move would be sought to ensure regular football. The recent acquisition of Juwensley Onstein from KRC Genk in January provides additional cover at centre-back, softening the blow of Cortés’s potential departure.

For Deco, the equation is straightforward: secure the marquee central defender first, then recalibrate the squad. How quickly the Bastoni negotiations progress will determine whether Christensen and Cortés are still Barcelona players by the time the new season kicks off.