Barca's £70 Million Plot For Iniesta Replacement

Barcelona are lining up a £70 million bid for a world class midfielder, who they think can help guide them back to the peak of European football. After scouting the player for three years, Barcelona chiefs now believe that he is the man to replace Andres Iniesta.

Marco Verratti is a key asset for Paris Saint Germain, although reports in The Sun today suggest that they will be willing to let him go for the right price, a price that Barcelona will look to pay. 

Verratti has been linked with Real Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal and Inter Milan also, but Barcelona appear to be the club of choice for the Italian, who admitted to Spanish media that "any player would play for Barcelona."

The Spanish club got to see their target up close recently, as Verratti's current team beat them 4-0 in the Champions League last 16 first leg, and will get another chance to assess him in the return leg. 

Andres Iniesta has been an essential part of the Barcelona team for years now, and with such big boots to fill and a potential £70 million price tag to live up to, Verratti will have a lot of expectation on him if the move goes through.