Barcelona reportedly want Marco Verratti to push for a summer move away from PSG, who are desperate to ward off interest in their star midfielder.
According to a report in The Sun, Barcelona are hoping for Marco Verratti to force a switch to Camp Nou in the summer transfer window, with PSG set to rebuff any approach for the Italian midfielder.
Verratti’s career has taken off ever since he joined PSG from Pescara in 2012. In fact, his impressive development over the last five years have seen the player blossom into one of the finest central midfielders in the world.
The 24-year-old has been one of the most influential figures for Les Parisiens, and in a season that was largely disappointing for the French giants, the player was one of their standout players.
Ever present for PSG, Verratti played 43 times in all competitions in the recently concluded season, keeping things tight in the centre of the park while also chipping in with 3 goals and 8 assists. However, after five seasons in the French capital, it looks likely that the Italian’s time at Parc des Princes is up.
Verratti’s agent, Donato Di Campli has gone on record to further add to the speculation linking his client with a summer exit from PSG, claiming that the Ligue 1 club are failing to match up to the player’s ambitions. Thus, a move away could be on the cards, with Barcelona keen on landing him in the summer.
The Blaugrana are desperate to make reinforcements in midfield, having failed to fill up the gaping hole left by the departure of Xavi in the summer of 2015. On top of that, club captain, Andres Iniesta, at 33, is no longer a spring chicken and unable to play week in week out.
And with summer signings Andre Gomes and Denis Suarez unable to make a mark in their maiden campaign at Camp Nou, coupled with inconsistent performances by Ivan Rakitic, the need to land a quality midfielder has been accentuated further.
Barcelona are, thus, keen to secure the services of Verratti in the summer transfer window. However, the player is signed up with PSG until 2021, and the French club are set to command a sizable transfer fee for him.
The report, though, states that Barcelona are “aware of the economic limitations” they face in the transfer market, which could force them to turn their attention towards alternative targets. The Catalan club are thus, hoping for Verratti to push for a move to Camp Nou in order to drive the asking price down.
With Verratti keen to take his career to the next level, the aforementioned just might be possible. It now remains to be seen if Barcelona are able to land a player they have been eyeing for a long time, this summer.
