Barcelona ready to swoop in Real Sociedad defender Inigo Martinez

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New Delhi, Aug 6: La Liga giants FC Barcelona are reportedly interested in Real Sociedad defender Inigo Martinez and are expected to seek a deal for the defender.

The 26-year-old year defender was linked with the Catalan club throughout the Summer, however, the Basque clubs President claimed that the club have no intentions to sell the French defender during the current transfer window and he is irreplaceable.

However, the sporting director Loren Juarros confirmed the interest on the player saying Barcelona had made a contact with them.

"It's true Barca have spoken with us [about Martinez]," Loren said in a news conference on Friday. "They've been in contact to show their interest in the player. But so far there is no offer on the table. That's all we can say.

"La Real have no intention of facilitating Inigo's exit to any club. He is irreplaceable. We do not want to sell him."

But now according to reports in Spain, the French center-back is alleged to have agreed to fly to Camp Nou for the transfer in the upcoming weeks as Barcelona are ready to give a transfer fee of €32 million, triggering his release clause.

Barcelona have recently released their Veteran defender Jeremy Mathieu to Sporting Lisbon and another defender Thomas Vermaelen is also reportedly will be sold out this Summer.

To fill up the void the new manager Ernesto Valverde reportedly intends to strengthen his back line following the increasingly ageing players Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano.

However, Martinez's arrival to Barcelona could make the new Catalan young defender Marlon Santos, get thrown out from the first team, and could be loaned to Leganes for the rest of the season.

Since his move to Sociedad, Martinez appeared in 193 La Liga games and caught the eye of many European clubs. He likewise took part in Spain's under-21 Euro Championship side in 2013 and was also linked with cash-rich Manchester City earlier.

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