LIONEL MESSI and Luis Suarez want Barcelona to land Liverpool star Mohamed Salah in a swap deal involving Ousmane Dembele, it has been claimed.
Salah has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona as a result of his stunning form for Liverpool.
According to Spanish publication Don Balon, Messi and Suarez believe the Egypt international would be a better signing than Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann.
Griezmann, who is available for €100million (£88.6m) due to a release clause in his contract, is expected to join Barcelona in the summer transfer window.
Express Sport understands Barcelona’s planned move for the France international would leave them struggling to raise the necessary funds to sign Salah.
Salah has scored 37 times in 42 appearances since joining Liverpool from Roma for a bargain fee of around £38million last summer.
Liverpool bosses would likely demand a world-record transfer fee to consider selling the 25-year-old.
But, according to Don Balon, Messi and Suarez have hatched a plan to lower the fee.
It is claimed they believe Barcelona chiefs should offer Dembele, who cost €147m last summer, in part-exchange for Salah.
The South American attacking stars, along with Philippe Coutinho, reportedly believe Dembele does not suit the team’s system.
However, Don Balon say that a deal for Griezmann would also cause problems.
It is claimed that Messi is unwilling to see his pal Suarez lose his place in the team to Griezmann.
And he reportedly believes the Frenchman would have to adapt his game to playing on the wing if he were to join.
Source:www.express.co.uk