Barcelona and Juventus ready to go to war for wantaway £70million PSG midfielder Marco Verratti
Italian wants to leave French champions this summer with Chelsea, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan also keen
BARCELONA and Juventus are ready to go to war for wantaway Paris Saint-Germain star Marco Verratti.
The Italian midfielder is believed to have asked his agent to secure him a move away from the French giants this summer.
A host of European heavyweights are keen on the playmaker – with Arsenal, Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Bayern Munich all keeping close tabs on the situation.
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But, according to , it is Barca and Juve – who also face each other in the Champions league quarter-finals next month – who are leading the race for the Italy international.
Barcelona are long-term admirers of Verratti and the 24-year-old has been touted as a long-term replacement for midfield icon Andres Iniesta.
But the La Liga side are also considering a move for Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho, leaving the door ajar for Juventus to make the first move.
Old Lady director Beppe Morata admitted this week that he wants a ‘Gonzalo Higuian of midfield’ for next season.
The Italian champions signed the Argentinian striker for a club-record £75million last summer.
And a similar fee could be required to land Verratti should they be sucked into a bidding war.
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PSG are believed to want £70m for the former Pescara ace - who they signed in a £10m deal in 2012.
He has won four Ligue 1 titles and been named in the team of the season on each occasion.
But he reportedly wants out after growing disillusioned with criticism in the French media - especially in the wake of PSG’s embarrassing Champions League collapse against Barca.