Barcelona to offer Junior Firpo and €70m for Lautaro Martínez - report

FC Barcelona and Inter Milan have put their negotiations for Lautaro Martínez on hold for the time being, according to a new report from Italy. But in Catalonia they are already talking about what the next, eventual offer for the striker will be: Junior Firpo and €70 million.

Barcelona are expected to make this bid at some point in the future, perhaps after football is over this season. Firpo would be valued at 41 million, putting the offer in line with the striker’s 111m release clause.

The problem is the Catalans do not have 70 million cash right now, and need first to raise the money. The report even says that, if it were not for the coronavirus crisis hitting the team’s profits, Lautaro would have already signed on.

Inter Milan are reportedly hoping a pause in negotiations will help Lautaro regain his best form. He’s on a barren run as far as goals, and the suspicion in Milan is that he is distracted by his plans next season. There are still a few games left in the Serie A season, even if it seems a foregone conclusion that Juventus will be champions. Inter are hoping to finish out the season strongly, not just qualifying for the UEFA Champions League but maybe getting second place as a consolation prize.