Chelsea are lining up a big offer to sign Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez in the summer transfer market, according to reports in Spain.
The 22-year-old has taken Italian football by storm since his move from Racing Club to Inter in the summer of 2018, netting 25 goals in 66 appearances in all competitions and drawing interest from many of Europe’s elite clubs.
Real Madrid made contact with Lautaro’s entourage in January but Barcelona responded with steps to block their arch-rivals’ progress and Martinez has now decided that, if the star does move to Spain, it will be for the Camp Nou rather than the Bernabeu.
Barcelona chairman Josep Maria Bartomeu held a series of meetings with club senior figures over the winter where it was decided they’d be looking to make two statement acquisitions ahead of the 2020/21 campaign: Martinez and former winger Neymar.
However, Sport claims that Manchester City and Chelsea will provide stiff competition for Martinez with both English sides prepared to break the bank for the Argentina international.
After snubbing an approach from Manchester United, Martinez’s entourage have listened to the Blues and Citizens, but the Premier League is not currently seen as a ‘priority’ for the young forward.
The attacker has a €111 million (£100 million) release clause in his contract at the club (that can be triggered in the first half of July) which Barcelona deem to be excessive.
The report states they will attempt to lower that price by offering Arturo Vidal in any possible deal.