Barcelona are looking into a possible £20 million bid for Southampton centre back Dejan Lovren.
The Croatian international, who is away on international duty at the World Cup, handed in a surprise request at Southampton last week.
Liverpool looked odds on to sign the highly rated defender, who signed for Southampton from French Ligue 1 side Lyon last summer.
However Barcelona are plotting their own bid of around £20 million or so.
The Catalans see Lovren as a replacement for Carles Puyol, who is to leave Barcelona this summer.
Barcelona have cash to burn having sold Cesc Fabregas in the last few days, and are set to table the bid in the coming weeks.
By Ben Reardon
@BenReardon1
