Barcelona wanted Lucas Moura as Neymar back-up but Spurs demanded £45m for transfer
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BARCELONA were reportedly interested in signing Lucas Moura this summer... until Tottenham demanded £45million for any transfer.
The Spanish giants saw the forward as a back-up option in case their pursuit of bringing Neymar back to the Nou Camp failed.
Lucas enjoyed a fine end to last season, especially with his dramatic hat-trick in the Champions League semi-final against Ajax.
But according to , Barca decided against going after him because they felt any potential deal would not be good business.
Lucas, 27, was sold by Paris Saint-Germain in January 2018 for £25m, five months after the French club broke the world transfer record to sign Neymar from Barcelona.
Neymar was linked with a move back to Spain throughout the summer transfer window this year.
A return to Barcelona or joining rivals Real Madrid looked a strong possibility after the Brazilian superstar failed to return to pre-season training when he was expected to be back.
There was even a suggestion he would be willing to stump up some of his own money to secure a move.
But with no deal thrashed out before Monday's European transfer deadline, Neymar is staying in Paris - at least until January.
And Lucas is going nowhere, either.
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Despite Barca's reported interest, the forward committed his long-term future to Tottenham by signing a new five-year contract, keeping him at the club until 2024.
But while the Catalan side did not land Neymar or Lucas, they did spend £107.6m on Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann.
The Frenchman has two goals and an assist from his three games for Barcelona so far as he completes a stellar front three with Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi.
