Barcelona are closing in on a record deal for Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez with just the final details of the transfer yet to be completed, according to reports in Argentina.
The Spanish giants have been heavily linked with a move for the striker – who has 11 goals in 22 Serie A games this campaign – with Lionel Messi keen to be reunited with his international teammate.
Barca feel they need more firepower, with an heir to Luis Suarez one of their priorities in the summer window, while they are also looking at bringing Neymar back to the club.
Now Argentinian sports newspaper Ole claim Barcelona are on the verge of landing the Inter player, with Martinez set to become the most expensive Argentine player in history.
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The record is currently held by Angel Di Maria when he joined Manchester United for £59.7m, though the deal for Martinez will eclipse that.
Barca have agreed to pay up the 22-year-old’s £99.6mrelease clause, though it will not be entirely in cash with Inter Milan agreeing to take a player as part of the deal.
Though, The identity of that player is still unknown with Arturo Vidal, Nelson Semedo and Ivan Rakitic all mooted as possible makeweights.
Martinez is eager to link up with Lionel Messi and move to Barca and personal terms will not be an issue, with just a few details needed to wrap up that end of the agreement.
Barca supporters may need to wait a while for the move to go through, though, with both teams happy to wait until their respective seasons have got back underway.
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Messi has made no secret of how high he rates Martinez, telling Sport: ‘Lautaro is an impressive striker, especially because I think he is a very complete point: he is strong, he dribbles well, he has a goal, he knows how to protect the ball.
‘But well, we will have to see what happens finally with him and with other names that have been mentioned.’
