Barcelona rejoin race to sign Lautaro Martinez

James Shearman

16 Apr 2022 16:14 BST
3 min read

Lautaro Martinez, Inter, 2021/22 — © ProShots

Barcelona have rejoined the race to sign striker Lautaro Martinez, with Inter Milan willing to lower their asking price.

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La Blaugrana had been close to signing Lautaro two seasons ago, with personal terms agreed, but they could not afford to go through with the deal.

Now, the Catalan club are in for the international teammate of Lionel Messi again, according to SPORT.

Much like Barca, Inter have financial troubles of their own and would be open to selling their most prized asset as a result - as they did with Romelu Lukaku's sale to Chelsea last summer.

The Serie A champions are looking for between €70-80 million for their 'number 10', who has 15 goals in 29 league appearances this season.

However, Xavi's side may be able to lower that fee even further with the inclusion of players such as Memphis Depay and Miralem Pjanic.

Depay has spent plenty of time of the sidelines following the arrival of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Arsenal.

Whereas, Pjanic is currently on loan at Besiktas and has no way back into the team after the development of Pedri, Gavi and Nico Gonzalez at Camp Nou.

Barcelona's competition for Lautaro

Tottenham maintain a strong interest in Inter attacker Lautaro Martinez and see the forward as one of the options who can come in and support Harry Kane next season, FootballTransfers understands.

Spurs sporting director Fabio Paratici is a fan of the 24-year-old and even tried to do a deal for him in January.

Lautaro Martínez with a goal and an assist for Inter against Spezia. He is now on 15 goals this season. pic.twitter.com/7zy1ukAmtS
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) April 15, 2022

Barcelona will also have to fight hard to see off stiff competition from beaten Champions League quarter-finalists Atletico Madrid.

The Spanish champions, who already have Lautaro’s compatriots Angel Correa and Rodrigo de Paul in the squad, are readying themselves for Luis Suarez's departure when his contract is up in two months and see the 24-year-old as the ideal candidate to replace him.