Barcelona are focusing on a deal for Real Sociedad defender Inigo Martinez.

Marca says Martinez has long been a target for Barcelona since the days of Andoni Zubizarreta being at the helm of transfers but finally they are ready to press through and pay the 32m euro release clause demanded by La Real.

Scheduled to return to pre-season following a troublesome fibre rupture on Wednesday, the Azulgrana hope to have the deal completed before then with Sociedad leaving their star man out of a friendly at Watford.

Furthermore, Martinez himself is thought to be delighted at the prospect of moving to the north east.