According to reports in sempreinter.com, Barcelona are ready to put a big bid on the table for Lautaro Martinez. The Argentina striker has been in sublime form for Serie A side Inter Milan. The Nerazzurri are very much in the title race this season, and much of the credit goes to Martinez. Barcelona are looking to add to their strike firepower, and Martinez is the player they think will solve their existing difficulty in converting chances.
Spanish sports journalist Veronica Brunati tweeted that the Blaugranas are ready to spend €120 million on Messi’s countryman.
El @FCBarcelona se plantea fichar ahora a #LautaroMartinez en invierno para sustituir a #Suárez (lesionado) 120 millones.
— Veronica Brunati ? (@verobrunati) January 21, 2020
Lautaro Martinez has a release clause in his contract of €111 million. But that can be activated only in the first two weeks of July. Quique Setien is eager to get the deal done in this window itself, and hence they might need to shell out more.
Barcelona have been tracking Lautaro Martinez for a while now. But they are not the only side who are looking to acquire his signature. Reports suggest that Manchester United are also interested in the 22-year-old sensation. That rumour gathered pace when Martinez’s girl-friend Agustina Gandolfo was spotted in England. Many were quick to jump to the theory that her trip was not a mere vacation, but has a relation with the player’s future.
Lautaro Martinez: How will he help the side?
Barcelona firmly believe that the valuation of Lautaro Martinez is not over-priced, and they have good reasons to back their claim. At his tender age of 22, Martinez is already one of the most important members of the Argentina squad. He has scored 24 goals in 60 matches for Inter Milan. Martinez is only expected to improve with time, which can be understood by his stats.
9 of those 25 goals came in the last season, from 35 matches. In this season, he has netted 15 goals in just 25 games while also having assisted thrice.
Barcelona’s main target man, Luis Suarez is nursing a major injury. While the Uruguayan is expected to be sidelined for a considerable period, Barcelona will take on Napoli next month in the round of 16 of UEFA Champions League. They have struggled in the La Liga recently winning only 2 of their last 5 league games. They also narrowly managed to edge past UD Ibiza in the round of 32 of Copa del Rey.
Hence, it is clear that the side needs reinforcements if they are to keep their Champions League dreams alive. With the form that he is in, Martinez is hence expected to be a good addition. Another advantage Barca will have on signing Martinez is that being a member of the Argentina national team, Martinez will have a great understanding with Lionel Messi and we have been led to believe that the move has indeed been greenlit by the magician himself.
