Lautaro Martinez 'would cost Barcelona £173m'

Barcelona would reportedly have to come up with a fee of £173m in order to sign Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez.

The 22-year-old, who has scored six times in 11 appearances for Inter this season, is believed to be a target for Barca as the Spanish champions search for a Luis Suarez replacement.

Earlier this week, it was claimed that the Catalan giants were preparing to activate the striker's £86m release clause ahead of a move either in January or at the end of the campaign.

However, according to Mundo Deportivo, the buy-out figure in Martinez's Inter deal is actually £173m, which is the price that the Italian giants would demand in order to sanction a sale.

Lionel Messi has reportedly personally contacted the centre-forward in an attempt to convince him to make the move to Barca.

Martinez has scored five times in his last four appearances for Antonio Conte's side, including a strike against the Spanish champions in the Champions League on October 2.