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Barcelona leaning towards Lautaro Martinez than a Neymar return (MD)

  /  autty

Barcelona are leaning towards a deal to sign Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez than Neymar this summer due to his lower transfer fee and wage demands, according to reports in Spain.

The Catalan giants are desperate to bolster their attacking options at the end of the season and find a long-term replacement for Luis Suarez at the same time.

Barcelona have been tracking Martinez for months while there remains some interest from the club in bringing Neymar back to the Nou Camp.

But, according to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are heading more in the direction of Martinez because it would be 'easier' to sign the Argentine than welcome back their former player.

That is because Martinez would cost 'less than half' of what it would take to sign Neymar.

It is claimed Barcelona have already approached Martinez and offered him a salary of around €7million (£6.1m).

Neymar, meanwhile, would have to significantly lower his financial demands to secure a dream return to Spain that he has been linked with ever since he moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.

It is claimed he earns €36m (£31.5m) a year in France, a figure deemed 'unattainable' in Barcelona.

But even that, said to be worth €25m (£22m), is now unaffordable because of the club's lack of income due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Martinez has shone in Serie A this season with Inter, scoring 11 goals in 22 matches, and has emerged as a serious target.