Antonio Rudiger has reportedly demanded wages of nearly £6million a season as he prepares to leave Chelsea when his contract expires in the summer.
The German international is a free agent in June and will be one of the hottest properties in European football.
Rudiger’s representative and brother Sahr Senesie held talks with Barca representatives in Catalonia on Wednesday as the Spanish club look to rival Real Madrid, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain for his signature.
There have also been suggestions that Manchester United could also look to sign the 29-year-old.
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Rudiger wants at least £115,000 a week - plus a signing bonus - if he chooses to depart Stamford Bridge.
His wages could be a stumbling block to a deal with Barca, who are hoping to lower his demands before considering any agreement with the player, Sport reported.
Sources close to Rudiger are adamant no final decision has been made over his future, but it is looking increasingly likely that the defender will leave at the end of the season.
Rudiger could become one of three Blues defenders to join Barcelona ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
The La Liga side have virtually completed their move to sign Rudiger’s central defensive partner Andreas Christensen, who is also out of contract this summer.
Barca are also keen on signing captain Cesar Azpilicueta, even though the club have triggered a 12 month extension on his contract.
If all three are completed, it would mean Barcelona would have signed the entire victorious Chelsea defence that finished the 2021 Champions League final.
It is not yet clear how much business the Blues will do in the summer as they are unable to sign players, sell members of their squad or renew contracts under the terms of sanctions placed on the club by the UK Government because of Roman Abramovich's ties to Vladimir Putin.