Lautaro closer, Neymar will take far longer

Barcelona want to sign Lautaro Martinez and Neymar Junior for next season but they are conscious of the difficulties.

They know that bringing both in is hard, especially because of Covid-19, which affects them heavily financially.

Meanwhile Inter Milan and PSG won't make it easy for their stars to leave.

Lautaro is the first objective. Barcelona want him as soon as possible. The Argentine forward has a deal until 2023 and a release clause of 111 million euros. However Inter know it will not be possible to keep him and may negotiate.

Barcelona are trying to see if players like Arturo Vidal, Junior Firpo or Nelson Semedo may go in exchange, while dealing with Sergio Zarate, his agent. 

Inter are looking for a replacement, and with Olivier Giroud an option, they are also prowling around Timo Werner, Luka Jovic, Anthony Martial and Victor Osimhen. 

Another very different question is Neymar. Former vice-president Emili Rousaud confirmed to L'Equipe that "Neymar's return is possible, Barcelona want him back."

Neymar wants back in too.

Rousaud said that it might end up with a deal which is paid in instalments. 

Evidently he's now an external voice but his words match the strategy that Josep Maria Bartomeu, the president, is using.

PSG want 170m euros and may accept players - Dembele, Todibo, Griezmann? It will need a lot of smooth dealing.