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Barcelona eye long-term replacements for Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez
BARCELONA appear to be eyeing long-term heirs for Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
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According to Catalan daily Mundo Deportivo, Barca bigwigs have their eye on two rising stars.
First on Ernesto Valverde’s wish list is 22-year-old Celta Vigo star Maxi Gomez.
The promising target man is well known to Suarez from the Uruguay national team set-up.
He’s regarded as one of the hottest prospects in La Liga and has an impressive record with Celta.
Barcelona target Andre Silva is impressing in La Liga
Gomez has bagged 25 goals in 49 games for the Galician outfit.
Barcelona aren’t the only team sniffing around.
Atletico Madrid have also been tempted to activate his tantalising £45m release clause.
Mundo Deportivo reckon Sevilla star Andre Silva, 23, is also wanted.
The Portuguese is on loan from AC Milan and has started life in La Liga with a bang.
He’s already managed seven in 14 for Pablo Machin’s side.
Messi and Suarez are now both in the twilight of their careers.
Suarez, 31, has suffered injury niggles this season.
The former Liverpool ace is currently sidelined with a knee injury.
Messi, meanwhile, has always insisted he would like to play for his boyhood club - Newell's Old Boys - before he retires.
Serie A side Atalanta cheekily suggested they want Messi to help fill their newly-built stadium.
Club president Antonio Percassi joked that he fancies signing the Barcelona superstar following Ronaldo’s suggestion that Messi should move to Italy.
“He is the player that I’d like to present to our fans in our new stadium,” Percassi told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Unfortunately, that’s impossible.”
Barcelona are performing solidly in La Liga this term.
They are top of the pile - but only on goal difference.
Diego Simeone’s men are hot on the heels in second spot.