Barcelona's Top Transfer Target Rejects Contract Offer From Current Club

These days it's all about player power and if a player really wants to leave then it's a good chance that he'll get his wish. That's why Barcelona will be happy to hear their number one target has rejected a new offer at his current club.

On Thursday Liverpool legend Ian Rush said that Southampton's Virgil van Dijk should just refuse to play for the Saints again and force a move to the Reds.

His theory was player power is all the rage so Van Dijk should use it. The former Reds striker might have had a point but it seemed a bit crass to make such a theory so public.

Van Dijk

_{Will the defender be able to force through a move to Liverpool? Image: PA}

Barcelona may well have said something similar to PSG's Marco Verratti but if they have they've at least done it privately.

The PSG midfielder is reported to want the move to the Camp Nou and according to Italian press Mediaset. via Sport, Barcelona's top transfer target turned down a new deal with PSG on Friday.

_{Barca are desperate to get their hands on the Italian. Image: PA}

The report said that Verratti interrupted his summer holiday to pop back to the French capital to talk to club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and new sporting director Antero Henrique.

During the meeting the Italian was apparently offered a new deal worth 12 million euros a year, although it's not clear if he was offered any extra years.

It's believed that after turning down the new contract the player was told that with his deal being until 2021 he would not be allowed to leave the club.

Marco Verratti

_{It's likely to take a huge bid to interest PSG. Image: PA}

Barcelona are obviously hoping that at some point the French club will relent and sell them the player but it's unlikely to be that easy.

PSG are one of the world's richest clubs in the world so it's not like they're desperate for the money and the Camp Nou side are surprisingly a bit short of cash.

The 24 year old has become one of the best central midfielders in world football and would be amazing addition to Ernesto Valverde's midfield.

If player power really is as powerful as everyone thinks then he will end up at Barca.

Do you think he will?

Topics: Barcelona, marco verratti, PSG

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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