Barcelona Transfer News: Club Talks Marquinhos Reports, Nolito Addresses Rumours

A high-ranking member of the Barcelona board has addressed rumours linking Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos with a move to the Camp Nou, and Celta Vigo's Nolito has also opened up on his ties to the Blaugrana.

Vice-president Susana Monje spoke to Spanish broadcaster Movistar+ this week and predicted an "intense summer" transfer window for Barcelona before tightening up when quizzed on Marquinhos (h/t Goal's Peter McVitie):

"

We never comment on likely signings and interest as we can't make public the things we are working on during the season. 

Our technical secretary follows many players and they will let you know on our interest when the time comes.

They will let you know which players they are considering. It will be an intense summer, for sure.

"

Marquinhos' lack of playing time this season has become a hot topic of debate at the Parc des Princes, with Brazilian compatriots Thiago Silva and David Luiz firmly established ahead of him in the PSG pecking order.

The centre-back has nevertheless managed to keep his place in the Brazil national team, however, per Bleacher Report's Jonathan Johnson, although that's largely down to manager Dunga's hesitance to use Silva in the team:

Marquinhos arrived at PSG from Roma in 2013 and made an impressive total of 76 appearances in his first two seasons, but the 2015-16 campaign has seen him make only 11 Ligue 1 starts.

This recently led the player's agent, Giuliano Bertolucci, to suggest his 21-year-old client could listen to offers in the summer, presumably disappointed with the lack of progress he's made in Paris, per Spanish daily Sport. 

"He always wants to play, but he prefers to change his position. He's happy in Paris and in this team. He wants to stay, but if the situation doesn't change, he will ask in the summer, that's what he wants to do. He's 21 years old and he has to think of his sporting progress."

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

The Mirror's Ed Malyon reported last month that Marquinhos was one of three young centre-backs on Barcelona's shortlist for a summer move as they look to revitalise their back line.

The likes of Marc Bartra, Thomas Vermaelen and Jeremy Mathieu have all sat on the sidelines as fringe figures this season, and the arrival of Marquinhos could add a youthful yet classy touch to their ranks.

Celta Vigo winger Nolito, meanwhile, has lifted the lid on the speculation that tied him to the Camp Nou in January, as well as hinting at his future chances of a move back to former club Barcelona.

Speaking to Radio Marca this week, the Spain attacker noted that he was happy to remain in his current setting, adding that Barca merely need to pay his buyout clause in order to land his services (h/t Marca):

"

In December I had offers from England, China, Russia, Dubai... But I'm happy at Celta and I want to play in the Euros. The Celta president told me that he wouldn't sell me. I said to him that's just fine by me.

[...]

The president spoke with me in January and said that Barça would pay half for me now and the rest in June. He said that there was no way that he'd sell me. I told him that's fine by me. If Barça pay my buy-out clause, they wouldn't be able to say no, I'd have to go.

"

Nolito has been out of action through injury in recent months, but Yahoo's Andrew Gaffney highlighted his impact on Celta's fortunes after he made a recent return to the lineup:

ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan confirmed in January that Nolito's buyout is valued at €18 million (£13.9 million), but Barcelona may be tempted to make bigger investments in the summer.

Their former charge could have made for a useful midseason purchase had they opted to bring Nolito back in the winter, but the players appears content enough to remain in his current setting.