Inter’s response to Barcelona’s interest in Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez is to look for star forward Lionel Messi, according to a report from today’s paper edition of the Turin based newspaper Tuttosport.

The report details how Inter’s interest in the six-time Ballon d’Or winner may simply be a strategy to push Barcelona off the tail of the 22-year-old Lautaro, who has been one of the stars of the squad this season under coach Antonio Conte. However, it is not to be excluded that the Suning group have a genuine desire to make Inter a super team and would fund the venture.

Lautaro’s €111 million release clause is too high for the Catalan club, the report continues. The Blaugrana are trying to offer various players to the Nerazzurri in order to negotiate a lower cash fee, although the Nerazzurri would rather not consider any deal for the time being, considering the ongoing Coronavirus emergency.

In addition to Dries Mertens and Olivier Giroud, a new forward is being considered by the Nerazzurri, the report adds. That player is 27-year-old German forward Mario Gotze, whose contract expires with Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season.