Barcelona have identified Benfica forward Darwin Nunez as a long-term replacement for Luis Suarez, according to ESPN.
The 21-year-old Uruguay international joined Benfica this summer from Almeria, and scored his first goals in a Europa League hat-trick against Lech Poznan.
Benfica manager Jorge Jesus said he expects Nunez to one day be sold for more than the €126m (£122m/$142m) Atletico Madrid paid to sign Joao Felix.
Nunez, was a target last summer in the weeks before Suarez left Camp Nou for Atletico Madrid. Barca held informal discussions on signing him and sending him on loan to Almeria in the Spanish second division.
However, those negotiations ended when Benfica emerged on the scene, with the Portuguese club eventually signing the Uruguay international for around €24 million.
Planning for the future continues apace at Barcelona despite last week’s resignation of president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his board of directors.
Sporting director Ramon Planes is working on deals for the January transfer window and beyond, although any signings will need to be approved by the incoming president, who will be elected within the next 80 days.
ESPN also claim Barcelona plan to make a renewed attempt this winter to sign Manchester City defender Eric Garcia, who is out of contract next summer.
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