Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde is pushing to sign Everton winger Gerard Deulofeu this week.

Diario Gol says Valverde has made a personal request that Barca trigger their buy-back option in the Spain international's deal.

The €12 million option remains in place until Friday, June 30. However, a deal remains anything but straightforward.

Deulofeu is reluctant to return to Barca without playing guarantees from Valverde. After a superb six months on-loan with AC Milan, which culminated in a call-up to the Spain squad, Deulofeu is desperate not to take a step back in his career.

Barca's board, meanwhile, are also at odds with Valverde's opinion. Where the coach views Deulofeu as an ideal addition to his squad, directors would prefer to buy the midfielder back and sell him on for a profit before the summer market shuts.