BARCELONA are preparing to offload up to FIVE players as part of a deal to sign Lautaro Martinez from Inter Milan, according to reports in Italy.
A mammoth wage bill and financial difficulties, allied with the coronavirus pandemic, are said to be creating problems for the Catalans – although they are still intent on improving their squad.
Martinez’s tally of 16 goals so far this campaign has caught the eye of many suitorsCredit: AFP
Replacing Luis Suarez remains key to their plans and Martinez is a long-term target.
Recent reports suggest the 22-year-old Argentine has already agreed to a £16million-a-year contract at the Nou Camp but Barcelona still have to contend with Inter.
The Serie A title chasers possess major ambitions of their own and are demanding Martinez’s full release clause – thought to be £92m.
Cutting that figure down and offering players instead is key to Barca’s approach, report Italian daily Corriere dello Sport, via CalcioMercato.
As many as five players could therefore head to the San Siro as part of the deal.
They are named as Arturo Vidal, Arthur Melo, Jean-Clair Tobido, Carles Alena and Nelson Semedo.
In January, the LaLiga leaders loaned out defender Tobido and academy product Alena after they failed to break into the starting XI.
However Vidal, Arthur and Semedo have been first-team regulars making a combined 83 appearances this season.
Chile international Vidal was, in fact, a target for Inter during the January window before Christian Eriksen arrived from Tottenham.
Some believe Barcelona’s end-of-season sales could go much further than just those names with Spanish newspaper Sport listing eight players the club will try and move on.
That includes Ivan Rakitic, Philippe Coutinho, Samuel Umtiti, Martin Braithwaite and Antoine Griezmann.
Ivan Rakitic smashes the ball in the back of the net during Barcelona training
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
