Barcelona Star Lionel Messi has urged the club to do everything possible to sign Lautaro Martinez this summer, MySportDab reports.
The Spanish club are desperate to sign Martinez and are close to secure a deal with Inter Milan.
Barcelona want to sign a new central forward as long-term replacement for striker Luis Suarez.
Lautaro Martinez has impressed this season and scored 12 goals in 22 Serie A matched.
Barca wanted to sign Martinez in January but they decided to wait until the end of the season.
The 22-year-old is worth around £97.5million, but Barcelona want to reduce the transfer fee by offering players in a swap deal.
MySportDab understands Barca have offered Inter Milan Arturo Vidal and Nelson Semedo as part of the deal.
However, Lionel Messi has now given his blessing for the transfer move and described Martinez as the “complete forward”
“To be honest with you, I’m not exactly sure if there were negotiations for him or not, I don’t know,” Messi said.
“I have already mentioned it before that Lautaro is an impressive striker, because I think he’s a very complete forward.
“He is very strong, can dribble well, score goals, he also knows how to protect the ball.
“But we will now have to see what happens finally with him and with other players mentioned.
Lionel Messi later compared Lautaro Martinez to Suarez, insisting that the pair play a similar pattern with their backs to goal.
“Lautaro has alot of resemblance to Luis,” he added.
“They both handle very well with their bodies, to hold the ball, running, at goal, they have similarities.”
