Sassuolo chief Giovanni Carnevali says they expect Kevin-Prince Boateng to be signed by Barcelona.

Boateng had a six month spell at Barca last season.

Carnevali told Gazzetta dello Sport: “I don't think we'll see him again, it's difficult.

“I think Barcelona will buy him and maybe move him on to another Spanish team: he'll probably stay in La Liga."

Carnevali was also asked about Empoli pair Francesco Caputo and Hamed Traore, plus young pair Jeremie Boga and 'bandiera' Domenico Berardi.

“Caputo is suitable for our style of play. As for Traore, we're very confident but if he came we wouldn't like a dry loan.

“Rather, we'd like an option or obligation to buy included because that's how we work. We build ourselves to grow.

“Boga will stay with us, while we've told Berardi several times that we'd like him to be our 'bandiera'.

“He's shown attachment to us by rejecting other clubs in the past: I think he has the desire to be a Neroverdi icon, but if offers were to arrive we'd certainly think about them before giving him away."