Bastos: İstanbul Başakşehir Set to Sign Lazio Defender

According to Italian Football Reporter Gianluca Di Marzio of Sky Sport, İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. are set to sign Lazio defender Bastos on loan (for the 2020/21 season) with an obligation to buy set at €2 million. Italian Sports Journalist Nicolò Schira first reported the Turkish side’s interest in the Angolan international back in June 2020.

İstanbul Başakşehir, who were winners of the Turkish Süper Lig this past 2019/20 season for the first time in their history, secured their place in the 2020/21 edition of the UEFA Champions League. As a result, they have been said to be on the search for reinforcements, especially with regards to their ageing team (and backline). The club’s current central defenders are Aurélien Chedjou (35-years-old), Martin Skrtel (35-years-old), Alexandru Epureanu (33-years-old), Miguel Vieira (29-years-old), and Ponck (25-years-old).

Bastos was signed by the Biancocelesti in the summer of 2016 from Russian Premier League side FC Rostov. Since then, the 29-year-old has made 88 total appearances for the club (62 matches in Serie A, 16 matches in the UEFA Europa League and 10 matches in the Coppa Italia). While the Angola international has had a fair amount of praise throughout his time in Rome, he has definitely had an equal amount of criticism, primarily due to his lack of consistency. As a result – in addition to the fact that he has a contract expiring in the summer of 2021 – Lazio are said to be prepared to part ways with Bastos, with a move to Turkey and İstanbul Başakşehir looking like the most likely destination.

Tags Alexandru Epureanu Aurélien Chedjou Başakşehir Bastos Champions League Chedjou Coppa Italia Di Marzio Epureanu Europa League FC Rostov Gianluca Di Marzio İstanbul Başakşehir İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. Martin Skrtel Miguel Vieira Nicolò Schira Ponck Russian Premier Leagu Schira Serie A Skrtel Sky Sport Super Lig Turkish Süper Lig UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League Vieira