Barcelona is reported to be willing to sign both Neymar and Lautaro Martinez this summer to form a dream forward line alongside Lionel Messi. But they certainly need to offload few players to meet the financial need to make those deals.
Despite the Barcelona squad being forced to take a 70 per cent salary cut amid the coronavirus crisis, the club’s hierarchy remain confident they can still finance two big-money signings. According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Barca intend to press ahead with their pursuit of Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez and the efforts to bring Neymar back to the Nou Camp.
Reports in Spain on Wednesday said Barcelona had opened negotiations with both Neymar and Martinez in case one fails to materialise, but Mundo say they wish to buy both.
Coutinho, who most probably would be back from Bayern loan duty, would be sold to finance the deal. It is also widely speculated Antoine Griezmann may also be used for either of these two target to sweeten the deal. Ousmane Dembele is also somebody who has generated interest from Liverpool, and Jurgen Klopp decided a cut off to bring the French player to Anfield.
Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu is confident Barcelona will have the financial muscle to sign all their transfer targets when the summer window finally opens following the coronavirus shutdown.
The Barcelona squad had taken a 70 per cent pay-cut during the Coronavirus pandemic to ensure non-sporting staff could receive full wages.
Brazil star Neymar, 28, who played for Barcelona between 2013 and 2017, is regarded as the player who can return them to Champions League challengers.
Barcelona hope the contraction of market values caused by the coronavirus crisis could lead to PSG lowering their asking price of around £160million.
Martinez, who has scored 16 goals for Inter this season, is also a priority for Barca, who were left short of attacking options when Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele picked up injuries earlier this year. He has a £98m release clause.
That led them to apply for special dispensation from La Liga to sign Martin Brathwaite from Leganes.
Martinez, 22, is reportedly sold on the idea of playing alongside his Argentina colleague Messi at the Nou Camp next season. Midfielder Arturo Vidal could move the other way to the San Siro as part of the deal.
Spanish clubs are only permitted to register three non-EU players and given that both Neymar and Martinez are South American, a current player, such as Chilean Vidal, would have to depart. Brazilian Arthur Melo is their other non-EU player.
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