Premier League clubs back in for Ronaldinho

Now that the negotiations with Milan doesn't appear to be anywhere close to a conclusion, some interested English Premier League clubs could give it another go and try to transfer Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho (28).

Manchester City
On Tuesday, British tabloid The Daily Telegraph claimed that Manchester City believes that they can successfully re-enter the race to sign Ronaldinho. Manchester City representatives would have met with Roberto de Assís, brother and agent of Ronaldinho, in Manchester (read more here) and with Barcelona officials in Barcelona (read more here) earlier this month. Kia Joorabchian, the British-Iranian representative of Manchester United forward Carlos Tévez and Liverpool defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano, is said to be possibly involved in the negotiations.

British tabloid The Daily Mirror says that Manchester City president Thaksin Shinawatra has hired player's agent Pini Zahavi hoping he can broker a deal thanks to his close relationship with Barcelona president Joan Laporta. Manchester City manager Sven-Göran Eriksson, also a close friend of Zahavi, would have given his approval to the transfer, although British newspaper The Independent says that Ronaldinho would not be a priority of the manager.

With Zahavi flying back to England in the next hours with a report, there could be an announcement in the coming days. Manchester City owner Shinawatra will be for the first time in months in Manchester this weekend and meet with Eriksson to discuss the coming transfer summer.

Talks were already confirmed last weekend by Manchester City executive director Taweesuk Jack Srisumrid (read more here). The club wants to become the biggest English club in East Asia and Ronaldinho's status could give a boost in that direction and at the same time get more people to the stadium. Manchester City would hope to sign the Brazilian for only 9 million euro° with Barcelona happy to get his salary off the books. Ronaldinho would be offered a week salary of 190 000 euro° or even a part of the ticket sales and the merchandising.

Tottenham
British tabloid The Daily Mirror claims today that Roberto has been offering his brother around the Premier League and that Tottenham was one of the clubs taking the offer seriously. The club is considering a bid and a Tottenham official flew to Spain to meet with Ronaldinho representatives recently. Ronaldinho would be a huge transfer coup for Tottenham and guarantee them lucrative marketing and publicity spin-offs. Manager Juande Ramos would like to sign the player.

Chelsea
Italian newspaper La Repubblica claimed on Wednesday that also Chelsea would have rejoined the race for Ronaldinho (read more here and here). AC Milan adviser Ernesto Bronzetti indeed told Italian television channel RAI Sport last weekend that Chelsea is one of the main clubs to go after the Brazilian: "Few clubs can afford Ronaldinho. Milan and Chelsea are the two clubs who are insisting the most for a transfer. But Ronaldinho doesn't really like English football."

Read more:
Manchester City serious about Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho agent met with Chelsea
Ronaldinho used Manchester City