Barcelona and La Liga club remain far apart in negotiations for 19-year-old defender | OneFootball

FC Barcelona sporting director Deco and Joao Amaral have placed a lot of emphasis on signing young, talented players with a high ceiling.

It is a clear indication that the scouting department do not just want to set the team up for immediate success but also ensure that the pipeline is intact.

This summer, one player Barça have been linked with is Racing Santander defender Jorge Salinas, who made quite an impression in the recently concluded Under-19 Euros.

Barcelona remain keen on signing the teenage defender, but negotiations are proving difficult as the two clubs continue to value the player very differently.

Big gap in valuations

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are unwilling to exceed €5 million to €6 million for the 19-year-old, while Racing Santander want a fee much closer to his €16 million release clause.

Salinas wants to join Barcelona. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

The report states that Racing have accepted Salinas is likely to leave after attracting interest from several top clubs, including Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

However, the newly-promoted La Liga side believe the defender is one of their most valuable assets and are determined to secure a fee that reflects both his potential and importance to the club.

Barcelona, meanwhile, see Salinas as a signing for the future rather than an immediate first-team regular, making them conscious of how much they can invest in him.

Barcelona explore creative solutions

To bridge the gap, Barça have been exploring creative solutions, such as the idea of including one of their academy players in the deal, for some time now.

Racing are open to that possibility, but only as part of a package. Their priority remains receiving a substantial cash payment rather than accepting a player exchange.

Super-agent Jorge Mendes has already suggested La Masia prospects such as Jofre Torrents and Xavi Espart, but Hansi Flick wants to keep both youngsters involved with the first-team set-up for now.

Racing holding out for a sizeable fee. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

The silver lining for Barça is that the player’s preference has been well established. Salinas has informed Racing that he wants to join Barcelona, although he has no intention of forcing an exit.

Instead, he is prepared to return to pre-season with Racing and continue acting professionally while negotiations continue.

For Barcelona, this now looks like a deal that will require significant compromise. The club either need to relax their stance on how much they are willing to pay or move on from the player.

The club clearly believe Salinas has the potential to become an important player in the future following his exploits in the campaign that helped Racing win promotion.

As much as he wishes to move to Barça, the two parties will have to identify a solution on the transfer arrangement, and the next few weeks could prove pivotal in the outcome of this deal.