Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia transfer market expert Gianluca Di Marzio has shared his belief that Inter striker Lautaro Martinez will not attempt to force a move to Barcelona in the coming months.
Barcelona have a long standing interest in the 22-year-old Argentine national team player and he is widely reported to be one of their top transfer targets for the upcoming Summer transfer window.
Many reports have suggested that Barcelona see him as the long term successor to current striker Luis Suarez, who is now 33-years-old and has little over a year left on his current contract at the Nou Camp.
“In the upcoming market, I think it will be complicated for a move to happen. To date, the negotiations appear to have stalled compared to a few weeks ago,” he told Sky Sport Italia.
“Before the Coronavirus emergency, a deal was well set up which had other players inserted but then things changed and Barcelona changed things but Inter do not want to sell Lautaro unless his release clause is paid.
“He is fine at Inter and in Milan. He is tempted by Barcelona but I do not think he will force a transfer.”
Di Marzio then went on to discuss Mauro Icardi, who is currently out on loan at reigning French champions Paris Saint Germain, and what Inter are expecting to happen.
“Inter expected PSG to take up their option to buy Icardi. The intention is there from PSG who could ask for a discount and I don’t think that Inter would be opposed to this.
“There was also talk of a clause that allowed Icardi to say no to PSG but this is not the case as it appears that he has already signed with PSG in the event he is bought outright at the end of the season.”
He concluded the interview by speaking on Napoli’s Dries Mertens, who is a player Inter have been heavily linked with for a good few months now due to the fact his contract is due to expire at the end of this season.
“He looked like he would renew his contract but then other teams showed an interest. The player will make a final decision in the next few days.”
