Marcelo Brozovic is a player that has been linked with Barcelona for a while now. The Inter Milan midfielder was on the Blaugrana’s agenda during the January window, with a potential swap deal involving Franck Kessie being discussed.
Nothing came of that, though, and both players stayed put at their respective clubs. However, recent reports had suggested that Barcelona and Inter were considering rekindling talks over a swap deal involving Kessie and Brozovic.
Amidst this Mundo Deportivo is reporting that Inter Milan are desperate to make a few big sales this summer and are prepared to sell Brozovic, but are holding out for a fee of €40 million for the Croatian international.
It is claimed that there is no shortage of suitors for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finalist, with Premier League clubs Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur also attributed with an interest in him, apart from Barcelona.
However, it claims that the Blaugrana are not going to meet the €40 million fee for Brozovic that the Nerazzurri are demanding at this point.
The report further claims that there had been talks about a swap deal involving Kessie and Brozovic, but the two parties were unable to come to an amicable agreement.
Inter Milan wanted cash in addition to Kessie in exchange for Brozovic, terms which Barça reportedly refused as the former is four years younger and both have three years left on their contracts.
So, as things stand, it would be fair to assume that Brozovic is unlikely to arrive at Barcelona next season.
Instead, Ilkay Gundogan seems to be the La Liga leaders’ preferred bet to strengthen the midfield, with the Manchester City veteran set to become a free agent at the end of the season. But they will have to stave off interest from the Premier League to sign him as well.
