Barcelona Transfer News: Latest on Luciano Vietto and Javier Mascherano Rumours

Barcelona have reportedly moved into pole position to land Atletico Madrid forward Luciano Vietto, with Sevilla also said to be in the running for the player.

According to Lluis Miguelsanz of Sport, the 22-year-old striker will decide between the two clubs, with his career at the Vicente Calderon set to come to an end after just one season. The Spanish champions are said to be ready to part with €22 million (£18.4 million) to land the former Villarreal starlet.

“Barca are better placed to sign Vietto after agreeing to buy his economic rights, while Sevilla are, for now, only contemplating whether to go through with the transfer,” the piece continued. “This has allowed the Catalan club to strike a deal early on with Atletico Madrid, who need finances themselves to sign new players of their own.”

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While Vietto wouldn’t be a starter ahead of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez or Neymar at the Camp Nou, he has the potential to be an able deputy for any of the coveted trio. Here is a look at what convinced Atletico to sign him:

Diego Simeone seemed like an ideal mentor for his young compatriot, but Vietto toiled in the capital, only netting one league goal in the 2015-16 season.

The chance for a fresh start would therefore be appealing, and provided Sevilla do make a concrete offer, it’d leave the player with a tough decision to make. After all, while Barcelona possess an obvious gravitas, the UEFA Europa League winners are more likely to offer Vietto the chance for more frequent football.

However, Spanish football journalist Rafael Hernandez thinks the Atletico man would be a very good fit for the Blaugrana:

Vietto would find himself at his fourth club in as many seasons if he was to move on from Atletico. And while it’s understandable he may want out of the Calderon, it’s important his next move is not a short-term one and that he gets the football he needs to continue his development.

So while he may be an ideal acquisition for Barca manager Luis Enrique, for the player himself, there are some obvious concerns to consider.

Javier Mascherano to Stay with Barcelona

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According to Miguelsanz, despite another attempt by Juventus to sign Javier Mascherano, the Barcelona man is set to sign a new contract at the Camp Nou.

“Mascherano believes that Barca have now shown that they value him, and it is very probable that he renews his deal at the start of August, precisely when he returns to training at the Catalan club,” it’s noted. “News had been arriving from Italy stating that Juve were prepared to go all-out for the Argentine international.”

It’s also added there were talks between the player and the Italian giants earlier in the summer, with a three-year deal close to being signed. However, the 32-year-old is said to be happy with the Blaugrana.

The former Liverpool man is one of a clutch of quality centre-backs at the Camp Nou at the moment. Indeed, Bleacher Report’s Jack Lusby believes Barcelona already have an ideal replacement should Mascherano depart:

Players of the defender’s quality and experience should not be discarded flippantly. Barcelona are revered for their attacking strength, but the defensive axis that’s been forged by Mascherano and Gerard Pique has also been so important to their success.

Few centre-backs in the world game offer tenacity and defensive explosiveness that can compare to Mascherano. The Argentina man may be approaching the twilight of his career, but he’s still a key member of the Blaugrana setup and plenty tied to Barcelona will be delighted should he commit his future to the club.