Lionel Messi has escalated speculation linking Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez with a move to Barcelona this summer.
The Spanish giants are understood to have made the 22-year-old striker their priority transfer target and are preparing to offload fringe players so they can meet his £97million release clause.
Martinez has shone for Inter this season, scoring 11 goals in 22 Serie A appearances and five Champions League goals in just six games.
And Messi admitted that he would like to play alongside the "impressive" forward at Camp Nou but insists that he does not know whether a deal is close to being agreed.
"If I'm honest I don't know very well if there were or are negotiations right now, I have no idea," Messi told Mundo Deportivo.
"I think I already mentioned it, that Lautaro is an impressive striker, especially because I think he is a very complete forward.
"He is strong, he dribbles well, he scores goals, he knows how to protect the ball ...But well, we will have to see what happens finally with him and with other players."
Messi, who also praised Martinez as "very complete" in February, is not the only Barcelona player to talk up Martinez.
Current Barca frontman Luis Suarez also described the Argentine as "very talented" and urged the Catalan club to recruit a young striker.
Suarez is now 33 and despite his impressive tally of 14 goals and 11 assists in just 23 appearances this season, he is entering the final years of his career.
The Uruguayan has been linked with a move to a number of MLS clubs and Barcelona are willing to listen to offers for the veteran striker.
La Liga remains suspended amid the coronavirus outbreak with Barcelona currently edging bitter rivals Real Madrid at the top of the table by two points.
