Lionel Messi has escalated speculation linking Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez with a move to Barcelona this summer. The Spanish giants are understood to have made the 22-year-old striker their priority transfer target and are preparing to offload fringe players so they can meet his £97million release clause.
Martinez has shone for Inter this season, scoring 11 goals in 22 Serie A appearances and five Champions League goals in just six games.
And Messi admitted that he would like to play alongside the "impressive" forward at Camp Nou but insists that he does not know whether a deal is close to being agreed. "If I'm honest I don't know very well if there were or are negotiations right now, I have no idea," Messi told Mundo Deportivo. "