AC Milan consider 25-year-old Barcelona target untransferable except on one condition | OneFootball

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Barcelona might not be financially blessed at the moment but this has not deterred Deco & co. from aiming for the stars in the transfer window. Despite struggling to register the players they have already signed, the club is still looking at high-profile transfer targets.

The Catalan club has been linked with a move for AC Milan superstar Rafael Leao. Juventus outcast Federico Chiesa would also become an option for the club as they look to reinforce the left wing before the window closes.

Now, as per SPORT, Deco has contacted Jorge Mendes over a move for the 25-year-old Portuguese star. However, Barcelona are aware of the challenge the operation poses due to its high fee and the need to balance financial fair play.

The report adds via Gazzetta dello Sport that the Serie A side have declared that the player is untransferable except on one condition. Any interested club should pay his €175m release clause to sign him this summer.

Barcelona and Deco were banking on the fact that they could pay around €65m plus offer one of their players to negotiate a swap deal with AC Milan. However, the Italian club want to do nothing with such a proposal.

At a time when we are struggling to register Dani Olmo, signing a player as expensive as Leao is rather unrealistic. Despite media reports, it’ll be a huge surprise if Barcelona even make a move for the Portuguese international this summer.

On the other hand, signing Federico Chiesa from Juventus seems more realistic for Barcelona this summer. We covered a story revealing that the Catalan club was preparing a €10m offer for the 26-year-old Italian.

Both players are roughly the same age and at their best, can be quite unplayable. However, one costs significantly lower than the other. Chiesa would be a great addition to the squad and we should be prioritizing him over a move for Leao.