Barcelona must part with a right-back in hunt for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez.
Negotiations are underway between Barcelona and Inter Milan for Lautaro Martinez. With his transfer fee too rich for the Catalan side, they’ve presented a list of possible players they are willing to include in deal.
While Arthur Melo is likely a non-starter, plenty of other players are in play including players in areas that Inter need to improve.
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According to Sport, Inter want Barcelona to include either Nelson Semedo or Emerson in a potential deal for Martinez.
Ideally, Inter would like to get the full fee for Martinez but are coming around to the idea that they would equally benefit by lowering the price and accepting players in exchange. Especially at right-back where the Italian club is looking to improve.
The report mentions that they are more interested in Emerson who is on loan at Real Betis but would settle for Semedo, whose future at the club is uncertain. The Portuguese has been linked in the past with Manchester City.
On Twitter, Nicolo Schira confirmed that Inter have already rejected an offer from Barcelona that included Semedo and Arturo Vidal.
Confirmed what I said and anticiped 5 weeks ago! #Barça have offered to #LautaroMartinez a contract with a wages of €10M a year. #Inter ask the payment of the clause (€111M) to sell him and have rejected the first bid of #Barcelona (€70M + Semedo and Vidal). #FCB
— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) May 11, 2020
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 https://t.co/dj4ttJQJto
They could very well included Emerson instead of Semedo since Inter favor the Brazilian. But unless Inter are willing to accept Samuel Umtiti or Junior Firpo, players the club are looking to move, on it’s probably the best offer Inter will get in terms of players.
If Inter indeed reject that first offer, the only alternative for Barcelona would be to increase their cash offer. Again, they’re unlikely to include Arthur because the player himself has mentioned that he doesn’t see himself playing anywhere else next season.
The drawback of including Emerson, besides losing a player who projects to have a bright future, is they are going to have to pay €6 million to Betis to end his loan early. So that’s adding even more money to a deal where Barça are already spending quite a lot.
Lautaro Martinez is their top priority signing for next season. If it really is him and no one else, then Barcelona are going to be left with no other option than spending a little more than they would like. Given his track record, it might very well be worth it.