Barcelona ready to beat Real Madrid, Chelsea and Arsenal to £70million Marco Verratti as PSG admit they WILL sell midfielder star for right price
Nou Camp chiefs eye Italian ace as long-term replacement for Andres Iniesta after French giants set fee for blockbuster move
BARCELONA are set to bid £70million for Marco Verratti this summer.
The La Liga giants have been tracking the Italian midfielder’s progress over the past few seasons as the search for a long-term successor to Andres Iniesta.
Verratti, 24, ran the show in Paris Saint-Germain’s 4-0 Champions League demolition of Barca last month.
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That match prompted Iniesta to admit that the former Pescara star should be his successor.
And, according to Catalan outlet , they will finally make their move at the end of this season.
But it is claimed Barca chiefs have been told they will have to cough up £70m to tempt the Ligue 1 champions to do business.
Real Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal and Inter Milan are all also believed to be ready to launch big-money summer moves
But Barca are firmly in pole position as the Italy international last month admitted a move to the Nou Camp would be too good to turn down.
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Speaking to AS, he said: “Even though I am currently in a good project and I feel at home, any player would play for Barcelona. It is still the best team in the world.
“They have the three best players in attack, and Iniesta too. Iniesta, Messi and Neymar create a move in a second.”
Verratti has scored two goals in 29 appearances for PSG this season.
PSG visit the Nou Camp for the second leg of their second-round tie next Wednesday as Barca aim for a miracle comeback.