EXCLUSIVE: Barcelona will try to sign Luan from Gremio as quest for striker nears end

EXCLUSIVE: Barcelona will try to sign Luan from Gremio as quest for striker nears end

Luan Guilherme de Jesus Viera, or just Luan. Gremio's No 9 who wears the No 7, is the player Barcelona have chosen to reinforce their attack, and in this way finish the list of signings for 2016-17. 

The striker, part of Brazil's Olympic side, fits the profile Albert Soler, head of professional sports at FC Barcelona, required. He is young - he turned 23 in March - has quality and a big potential. His price, as SPORT revealed on Saturday, would cost around 20 million euros, a reasonable figure for Barcelona.

Gabriel Jesus has always been the first option in the Brazilian market but the forward is likely to head to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City for around 32m, (20 for the club, 12 to agents and the player himself), is also high. 

The option to sign Luan was activated by Barcelona after their latest meeting over transfers, in which Luis Enrique said he is happy for Denis Suarez to cover the wide forward positions and he wanted a No 9 to occasionally relieve Luis Suarez.

Luan is happy to come to Barcelona to learn, progress and fight for minutes. He is loved by Gremio's fans, some of the most demanding in Brazil, and has been watched by many European scouts. 

He came close to signing for Premier League champions Leicester City but the move broke down. While he is at the Olympic Games, Barcelona have plenty of time to negotiate, as he can't join the squad until August 22.