Ramires
Ramires is a Barcelona's main target for next season. [Reters]

Barcelona are considering signing a midfielder next summer and one of their prime targets is Chelsea player Ramires, according to reports in one of Spain's most popular newspapers.

Mundo Deportivo reports Barcelona manager Tata Martino wants to have more variety in midfield and Ramires would add physicality and workrate to the squad.

The Brazilian is on a shortlist of three players that also includes Atletico Madrid youngster Koke and Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal.

Ramires is earmarked for the role previously held by both Yaya Toure and Seydou Keyta when Pep Guardiola was the manager at Barcelona. The former Benfica player, 26, arrived at Stamford Bridge two seasons ago and has since become a key player for the West London club, under Roberto Di Matteo, Rafa Benitez and Jose Mourinho.

This season, Ramires has become more pivotal than ever - being part of the starting line-up in all the eleven Premier League games and scoring two goals.

Given his recent form, it appears unlikely that Chelsea will consider selling Ramires, especially given they paid more than £18m to Benfica to sign him when he was just a young talent.

Barcelona need a new midfielder because although they have several players in the position, many of them have an uncertain future.

Xavi Hernandez, who is 33, is almost at the end of his career while Cesc Fabregras, Alex Song and Sergi Roberto received many offers last summer and could consider moving if they do not get a place in the starting line-up. Furthermore, Andres Iniesta has yet to sign a new contract.

In Barcelona nobody forgets Ramires after the Chelsea midfielder played a key role in knocking out Guardiola's team from the semi-finals of the Champions League two seasons ago, scoring a fantastic goal at Stamford Bridge.