In France people are beginning to think it's an option that Marco Verratti could leave Paris Saint-Germain for Barcelona. The player's desire is to leave Paris and take on a new challenge, somewhere he can win trophies. And prestigious newspaper L'Equipe is already speculating about possible replacements: Adrien Rabiot, Giacomo Bonaventura, Arturo Vidal, N'Golo Kanté, Saul Níguez and Radja Nainggolan.

The recent comments from Verratti's agent have set off alarms. Donati di Campli told Sky Sport Italia: "We've let all our thoughts be known to PSG, it's a hard deal to get done. It's not a question of Barcelona but of projects. I am trying to wield a champion, I ask those questions, and I pull on many threads. Anyone else in my position would do the same. You need to win to be a champion."

Rabiot is being touted as the "internal solution" available to PSG. Verratti's team-mate is 22 and has impressed already under both Laurent Blanc and Unai Emery. Milan's Giacomo Bonaventura, by his side, could add "a more attacking profile". Another of the interesting alternatives put forward is Bayern Munich's Chile international Arturo Vidal, "a player capable of playing 50 games every season."

FISHING AT AtlEtico Madrid?

The youth and potential of Atletico's Saul Niguez is also an option. At 22 he's already proven himself in Diego Simeone's side and has impressed at the top level in the Champions Leagie. "With room to progress," the Atletic player has qualities which the French press say "would allow him to easily adapt" to Emery's team.

Chelsea's Kante is a less likely option, given it's almost impossible to imagine him leaving Chelsea last summer. "More defensive than Verratti, he would need to be alongside a more attacking player." And the sixth player named as a possible replacement is Roma's Radja Nainggolan. The 29-year-old scored 11 goals and laid on five assists for his club this season.

Another candidate not named in L'Equipe is Nice's Jean Michael Seri, a midfield player who has also been linked with Barcelona this summer in the event they are unable to persuade PSG to sell Verratti.