Barcelona 'to do everything possible' to sign Lautaro Martinez, reports say
Spanish reports on 19 August 2026 said Barcelona are pursuing Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez as their top summer target and will push in the final days of the transfer window, Spanish reporter Gerard Moreno claimed.
“It will be a very difficult deal to pull off, but Lautaro is Barça’s number-one priority, and the club will do everything possible in the final days of the transfer window,” Romero said, as quoted by 433. "Lautaro has opened the door to a move to Barcelona."
Barcelona have been searching for a replacement for Robert Lewandowski and earlier pursued Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez before Martinez emerged as the primary alternative. Hansi Flick is reported to want Martinez for his side, and Italian journalist Matteo Moretto said the Catalan club enquired with Inter about Martinez’s availability without lodging a concrete offer. Lewandowski left on a free transfer at the end of last season and Ferran Torres moved to Paris Saint-Germain on a permanent deal, while Barcelona have signed Karim Adeyemi and Anthony Gordon to reinforce their attack.
Martinez is under contract with Inter until 2029 and scored 22 goals across all competitions last season. Transfermarkt places his value at €85 million. The reports describe any prospective move as costly.
Inter are described in the reports as under no pressure to sell their most prized asset and club captain, and would expect a fee above the Transfermarkt valuation to open negotiations with Barcelona. The article states Martinez has netted 132 goals in Serie A.
The coverage notes Martinez will turn 29 this month and characterises a potential transfer as a significant investment in a player approaching his thirties. The reports also position Martinez as Barcelona’s most capable alternative to Julian Alvarez, whom the club had pursued since before the FIFA World Cup 2026 but has not been made available by Atletico Madrid.
Sources in the report suggested Martinez would rank among Barcelona’s largest signings in recent times and that he would join the squad alongside Barcelona’s recent acquisition of Rodri from Manchester City. The article reiterates that, despite interest, any deal would be an expensive one for the Catalans.
According to the reporting, Barcelona intend to press for Martinez in the final days of the summer window, while Inter would demand significantly more than €85 million to begin formal negotiations.
