Barcelona boss confirms interest in Lautaro Martinez as Inter Milan request for key players in swap deal

Quique Setien has confirmed that his club are interested in signing Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez.

According to Spanish newspaper AS, Inter have told Barcelona they can have Lautaro Martinez for €90m cash plus Arturo Vidal, as well as Antoine Griezmann on loan.

The Argentina international has a €111m release clause in his contract, but that can only be activated at a certain time and with all the money arriving in one payment.

This is a problem for the Blaugrana, who have been trying to offer players in part-exchange to bring the costs down.

La Gazzetta dello Sport wrote this morning that Inter won’t even sit down at the table to discuss a deal unless it includes €90m cash.

Martinez has been heavily linked with replacing Luis Suarez as Barca’s next No 9, and Setien confessed the 22-year-old was already a ‘great player’.

“He’s an important player, a great player, and Barcelona are always interested in great players, of course,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport as cited by Football Italia.

“But in these times without football, a different name comes out every day. There’s also been talk of Neymar. And I’m sure you’ll ask me about Fabian Ruiz.”

There is also the Argentina connection with Lionel Messi…

“You’ll have to ask him about that. All jokes aside, all good players can attract Barcelona’s interest, that is clear.

“It’s also true that, for many players, the fact of being able to play with Messi represents a huge incentive.”

Kepa raises health issue as Chelsea resume training ahead of June 8 Premier League season restart

Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga claimed it is “absurd” to talk about dates to resume the Premier League season and revealed health risk needs to “zero” before football returns.

The Blues have already ordered their foreign-based stars home back in London by Sunday as top-flight clubs start drawing up plans to resume training.

Kepa told Marca: “It is a new situation and not an easy one. But whenever you talk about health, the rest is in the background.

“And you have to go back when the risk is zero. Then, we will need to do a preseason, but when the risk is controlled.

“It is difficult to talk about dates, the players cannot control that. In Germany it is seen that the teams are already training together; in France, it has been suspended … We are waiting, and it will be decided with the health of everyone in mind.

“If the Premier returns soon, it will be a good sign that the pandemic is being controlled.

“I am in favour of maximum security. It is absurd to talk about dates to play. Everything, in time and when the authorities say.”