Barcelona 'to meet' £27.7m Leroy Sane release clause amid Manchester City and Liverpool links

Barcelona are ready to meet the €37m (£27.7m, $40.2m) release clause of Leroy Sane during the summer transfer window and win the battle for the much coveted Schalke 04 starlet, according to L'Equipe. The French publication claims the Champions League winners have already reached a pre-contract six-year agreement with the player after he had been mentioned with the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City and Liverpool in recent months.

The 20-year-old offensive midfielder has been linked with big money move away from Schalke since catching the attention of Europe during his side's 4-3 victory at Real Madrid in the Champions League, scoring club's third before setting up Klaas Jan Huntelaar to net the winner. Schalke director Horst Heldt revealed earlier this season that Liverpool tried to secure the player's services previously, but both club and player were uninterested in the Reds' approach.

"There were a number of prestigious clubs that contacted us about Sane," Heldt told Bild in October. "Liverpool were ready to pay money for him. These offers didn't interest us or the player. I am really not concerned about losing the player. Two years ago, Ajax made an offer as well. Leroy can have a great career, he is on the right track."

Bild recently reported Manchester City were in the mix to secure Mane's services, with the Premier League giants ready to make him the most expensive German player in history, paying around €55m.

But L'Equipe now reports that Barcelona are set to beat the rest of the suitors and that the move will not be that big – as he has a buy-out clause set in €37m.

The prestigious French publication claims that Barca have also agreed a six-year deal with Sane that will see him moving to the Nou Camp in the summer.

Meanwhile, Mundo Deportivo claims the Catalan giants are on the verge of beating Arsenal for the January signing of Celta Vigo forward Nolito. The Spain international would join them immediately on loan, with a mandatory option to secure his services on permanent basis in the summer for around €20m.