Barcelona hit a snag and could lose out on top transfer target

Negotiations between Barcelona and Juventus have reached an impasse.

Talks between Barcelona and Juventus over midfielder Miralem Pjanic have progressed slower than either club would have liked.

Just a week or so ago, reports were coming out that a deal had been reached that would have seen the Catalans send over cash plus Nelson Semedo in exchange for the Bosnian. However, that never came to fruition.

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Now, according to Sport, Barcelona are in a bit of a panic mode as the reality that they could lose out on Pjanic is setting in. The biggest obstacle in the negotiations is Arthur Melo’s insistence that he does not want to leave and be part of any swap deal.

The Brazilian midfielder has remained adamant that he does not want to go to Juventus or Inter Milan. The club, on the other hand, are still trying to convince him.

They believe that he has not lived up to expectations since arriving. His inability to remain healthy has also prompted Barcelona to no longer consider him untouchable.

To make matters worse, Chelsea and PSG are still hot on his trails with the English side offering Jorginho in an exchange. Jorginho is a player Maurizio Sarri really likes but Pjanic does not fancy a move to the Premier League.

PSG are said to be offering either Marco Verratti or Marquinhos in exchange. It would be a return back home to Italy for Verratti and Marquinhos could provide more cover for the backline.

Still, Pjanic only wants a move to Barcelona. Juventus have told the Catalan side that they would only accept Arthur Melo or Ansu Fati in a deal. Given how Fati has performed this season and that he’s only 17, it is unlikely Barcelona would even entertain the thought of moving him on.

This is the problem with trying to do swap players in a deal. One side is always going to try to include players they consider surplus to requirements and the other is going to try to get the best player that they can.

Barcelona don’t have the best record when it comes to the transfer market. They are paying for their mistakes and it’s why they have to maneuver these types of deals instead of just paying a transfer fee.

The Pjanic deal may drag on for a while which increases the probability that one side is going to get fed up and move somewhere else. With other suitors waiting in the wings, Juventus hold the cards. Barcelona are either going to have to agree to their terms or simply move on.