Barcelona transfer news: PSG star wants Barca over Madrid, Messi wants star sold and more - 4th April 2018
Marquinhos ready to snub Real Madrid for Barcelona
The Brazilian has been at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) since 2013 and has so far failed to win the coveted Champions League despite the Ligue 1 club's continuous spending over the years. Now, the 23-year old is interested in a move to Barcelona in the summer, as per Spanish news outlet, Don Balon.
As per the report, Marquinhos is interested to replace Samuel Umtiti, if he leaves this summer. Lionel Messi has received this bit of information as per Don Balon and the club is interested in the defender as well. Umtiti's future remains uncertain unless he signs a new contract with Barcelona and the club are naturally looking for alternatives.
Marquinhos was wanted by Barcelona previously as well but the Blaugrana eventually signed Umtiti to partner Gerard Pique. The classy centre-back could prove to be a good fit at Camp Nou and he is ready to snub Real Madrid, who are interested in his services as well in the summer.
While Marquinhos wants to play for Barcelona, it could prove to be difficult to pull off the move as the relation between both clubs is strained since Neymar's world-record move to Paris.
Clement Lenglet refuses to rule out Barcelona move
The 22-year old joined Sevilla in the summer of 2017 and has immediately become the lynchpin of their defence. Naturally, there is interest in the Frenchman, especially from Barcelona as his countryman Umtiti's future is up in the air. Now, the centre-back spoke about the speculation and said:
"FC Barcelona is a great team, with international players of very high level, but here too and I am happy to be here, we will see what happens in the future, for now I am focused on the League and Champions League."
Thus, Lenglet talks about focussing on the present with the Andalusian club still participating in the Champions League, however, he does pour lavish praise on Barcelona and his admiration for the Catalan club is evident.
It remains to be seen whether the Blaugrana want to add a relatively inexperienced player such as Lenglet to their first-team if Umtiti leaves in the summer. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that the young defender can become a mainstay in Ernesto Valverde's squad if given a chance to learn and grow at his own pace.
Messi wants Ousmane Dembele sold in the summer
The Frenchman was signed from Borussia Dortmund in the summer as a replacement for the departing Neymar. Since then, a combination of injuries and bad form have hampered his performances for Barcelona. Now, Messi is fed up with the wide forward and wants him sold if Spanish news outlet Don Balon is to be believed.
The Barcelona no.10 is of the opinion that the 20-year old does not gel well with the team. Thus, the Catalan outfit are willing to sell Dembele if they end up landing their top summer target, Antoine Griezmann, from Atletico Madrid, thereby ending the former's time at the Camp Nou even before it took off.
The possible arrival of Antoine Griezmann will mean he will be a part of the front three alongside Messi and Luis Suarez, which will relegate Dembele to the bench. Thus, the two-footed attacker will have to look for new pastures but he will not be short of suitors given his age and quality.
Meanwhile, Barcelona need to think hard about letting Dembele go before giving him a fair amount of chances.