Juventus and Arsenal monitor Busquets talks

Italian sports paper Il Corriere dello Sport claims that Juventus is very much interested in Barcelona midfielder and Spanish youth international Sergio Busquets (20) and is ready to contact the player's agent Josep Maria Orobitg soon if the Catalan player doesn't sign a renwal.

British tabloid The People claims that also Arsenal is set to make a move for Busquets if he fails to agree a new contract, with his current deal expiring at the end of this season.

Spanish news agency EFE claims that Barcelona has held on Thursday a third meeting with Orobitg. After Barcelona had rejected a first renewal proposal put forward by the player's agent, the positions would now have come a lot closer, especially regarding the salary.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo confirms that progress was made during a meeting on Thursday morning between Orobitg and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona general football director Raül Sanllehí. Busquets will sign a five-year deal, but there are still minor differences about the split of the salary in a fixed part and incentives.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that there's a principal agreement for a five-year renewal (read more here). Busquets would get a serious pay rise. The fixed part would already be agreed upon, but there's still no deal on the incentives. A new meeting next week should resolve the last issues.

Asked about Thursday's meeting, Busquet's agent said to the paper that it has been a key meeting: "There are still some little details left but it's true that we are a lot closer now and I think that we can close everything very soon. Now it's just about some minor issues but those shouldn't block the renewal.

Contracts can be very complex, with a lot of conditions and the incentives are becoming more and more important. Everything is ok but we just need to agree on some things. Both parties are totally willing to reach an agreement and I'm sure it's just a matter of time. When both want the same, and there's no doubt about this here, a deal can only be a matter of time."

Read more:
Milan offers Busquets twice as much as Barcelona
The Arabic tattoo of Busquets
Principal agreement on Busquets renewal