Manchester United are preparing to miss out on summer transfer target Lautaro Martinez, with the Inter Milan hotshot set for Barcelona. The Red Devils will be keen to sign a striker at the end of the season once Odion Ighalo’s loan spell is over.
Martinez looks set to be Barcelona’s big-money deal of the summer.
The Inter ace is wanted by Nou Camp chiefs as a long-term replacement for Luis Suarez.
The 33-year-old Uruguayan is approaching the end of his career as the club’s leading striker, and is still recovering from a season-ending knee injury.
Barca are adamant that a new striker will arrive in the summer, and they appear to be prioritising a move for Martinez over trying to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Arsenal.
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The Premier League outfit failed to replace Romelu Lukaku after the Belgian left for Inter last summer.
And they only managed to bring in 30-year-old striker Ighalo on a six-month loan deal in the January window, meaning they are still low on reinforcements up front.
Now, it appears they will miss out on signing Martinez too.
Real Madrid had also been tempted to make a move for the Inter star, with Zinedine Zidane reportedly unhappy with £62m signing Luka Jovic.
Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was wanted by Barcelona (Image: GETTY)
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