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Barcelona 'view Fulham's Joao Palhinha as the ideal Sergio Busquets replacement'... but Fulham's £90m asking price could scupper the move

Barcelona have reportedly identified Fulham's Portuguese midfielder Joao Palhinha as an ideal replacement for the recently departed Sergio Busquets.

The LaLiga champions are scouring the transfer market for a midfield figurehead capable of filling the void left by long-standing servant Busquets after he decided to leave Europe and join former team-mate Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.

Mail Sport exclusively revealed that Palhinha will be allowed to leave Fulham but only if their £90million valuation is met amid interest from West Ham.

The Hammers are moving closer to sanctioning a sale for Declan Rice with Manchester City and Arsenal fighting for the Englishman's signature and will use funds from his sale to bring in a new midfield starter.