BARCELONA are set to give up on their chase of Lautaro Martinez with the striker braced to sign a new deal, according to reports.
The Argentine hitman was at the top of Barca’s transfer wishlist last summer.
Lautaro Martinez is set to sign a new contract at Inter MilanCredit: EPA
But the coronavirus pandemic has had a serious financial impact on the Catalan giants and they were forced to shelve their transfer plans.
Now it appears the opportunity has been and gone with Martinez’s new contract removing his release clause.
Martinez, 23, was allowed to leave the San Siro if a club offered £98million for his signature.
But his fine form this season, which has seen him score ten Serie A goals in 16 starts, has urged Inter Milan to give him fresh terms.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Martinez’s pay packet will increase from £48,000-a-week to £86,500.
It is claimed the player and club were at loggerheads over his new deal last year with Martinez asking for around £140,000-a-week.
His current deal expires in 2023 but he will commit his long-term future to Antonio Conte’s side, warding off any transfer interest.
Barcelona are still likely to be in the market for a new striker in the summer to search for Luiz Suarez’s long-term replacement.
The Uruguayan joined Atletico Madrid in the summer so they could trim their wage bill.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
