Barcelona start offering Inter players in exchange for Martinez

Barcelona have opened negiotations with Inter about the transfer of striker Lautaro Martinez and are even willing to send players in the opposite direction to get a deal over the line, claims Sky Sports.

Martinez has emerged as Barcelona's top transfer target this summer following his fine performances for Inter in 2019/20 but the Spanish side are hoping to drive down his asking price.

Barcelona are in financial turmoil following the oubtreak of COVID-19 and are reluctant to trigger Martinez's £97m release clause.

The Spanish outfit are in talks with Inter about a deal for Martinez and hope to include some of their own players in order to negotiate a lower fee.

Barcelona have knocked back Inter's request for Brazilian midfielder Arthur but Antonio Conte's side are reportedly interested in Carlos Alena and Nelson Semedo.

Despite only arriving in the summer from Real Betis, left-back Junior Firpo has also been offered to Inter but the Italian side have declined.

Manchester United are also interested in signing Martinez but Inter players are convinced he will join Barcelona this summer.

Martinez has flourished for Inter this season since being allowed to step out of Mauro Icardi's shadow and has struck up a particularly notable partnership with summer signing Romelu Lukaku.

The 22-year-old has reached double figures for goals in his second league campaign for Inter (11), though his pass success rate is remarkably low at 59.5%.