Lavezzi heads Barcelona transfer

The name of Ezequiel Lavezzi is heard with increasing volume around Barcelona. The Argentine Paris Saint Germain forward, whose contract finishes in June – and he wants to leave the club – has become a big priority for the technical secretary Robert Fernandez, to reinforce Barcelona’s forward line in the winter transfer window.

Lavezzi would leave PSG for January for €5million, the club he arrived at in 2012 from Napoli, and he has an excellent relationship with Barcelona star Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano, whom he knows from international duty.

The incorporation of Lavezzi would please Fernandez, who has travelled to Paris to watch him play on more than one occasion. The technical secretary thinks that the Argentine fits the profile needed in the squad, a forward of a good level, capable of playing on the wing – at PSG he plays on the left and he’s played on both sides for Argentina – but good in the centre too, with goalscoring capacity (he scored nine goals last year).

PARIS, FRANCE – APRIL 02: Ezequiel Lavezzi of PSG celebrates his goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Chelsea FC at Parc des Princes stadium on April 2, 2014 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Convinced that the moment has arrived for him to leave PSG, Lavezzi has also aroused the interest of Inter Milan and Juventus, but his preference would be Barcelona. Ariedo Braida, international sporting director, would also go for the signing of “Pocho”, Lavezzi.

However, the operation needs the green light from Luis Enrique, who is studing the options the market offers to bolster his attack.

The board have not yet confirmed the cost of the operation. They think it will be €5m to sign the player and then around €5m a season to Lavezzi after that. He turned 30 in May and would sign a contract for two and a half years – up until June 2018.