Barcelona are reportedly considering a swap deal that would see Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni join the club in exchange for Jordi Alba.
Alba has three years remaining on his current contract and an enormous £429m release clause, but as he is one of the club's biggest earners, the Catalan giants are thinking about moving him on this summer.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Serie A champions Inter are one club to have expressed their interest in Alba, though they would find it difficult to finance a cash deal to sign him this summer.
Barca are also struggling financially and La Liga president Javier Tebas has warned that the club must decrease their spending if they wish to renew Lionel Messi's contract.
If Ronald Koeman's side are to recruit new players this summer, then they are likely to either sign free transfers, as they have already done with Sergio Aguero, Eric Garcia and Memphis Depay, or negotiate swap deals with players and other clubs.
Inter's Bastoni, 22, is believed to be admired by Barca's hierarchy, but the Italian outfit are unlikely to sanction a transfer for one of their star defenders, while Alba is not currently contemplating an exit from the Catalan club.
Bastoni made 41 appearances across all competitions for Inter last season – keeping 17 clean sheets in defence – while Alba feature 49 times for Barcelona, scoring five goals and providing 15 assists from left-back.
Oliver Thomas
