Barcelona are looking to sign Inter striker Lautaro Martinez at any cost, despite the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, according to a report from today’s paper edition of the Spanish newspaper AS.
The report details how the Catalan club have their financial situation under control, due to the Spanish system of Expediente de Regulación Temporal de Empleo or ERTE, which allows the club to temporarily suspend the contracts of their employees or even dismiss them due to a serious emergency, like the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
Whilst this could pose an issue in the deal for Lautaro, as the Spanish government would closely examine those who use ERTE, the report continues, Barcelona are ready to explain that it has been used elsewhere in the club, but not on the first team, who instead have already reached a separate salary cut agreement.
Barcelona know that using ERTE will incur a higher tax burden from the Spanish government, the report highlights, but the club aren’t worried as there is no intention of making any crazy moves on the transfer market, apart from the deal for Lautaro. The Blaugrana are hoping to offer €60 million plus two players in exchange for the Argentine striker.
