Deco working on a final bombshell in Barcelona's mercato

Deco is lining up one final bombshell in Barcelona's transfer market, and full-back Alejandro Balde looks set to be at the heart of it.

According to "Sport", Barcelona are chasing a swap deal for Inter Milan star Federico Dimarco, with Balde heading the other way to the Nerazzurri.

Hansi Flick left little room for doubt when he admitted Balde would struggle to nail down a prominent role at the Catalan club.

The arrival of Joao Cancelo hasn't helped either. Add in the sparkling form of Gerard Martin, and the fight for the left-back spot has never been fiercer.

Both clubs are now in talks over the exchange, even though Dimarco, 28, has been one of Inter's untouchables in recent years.

Those negotiations have ramped up in the last few hours. So far, though, Inter have refused to sanction the departure of one of their key men.

Barcelona know full well how tricky this one will be. There's still a window open in the final three days of the summer market, and the Catalans will hand Inter a cash sum to get the swap over the line.