Hleb could be part of Ribery deal

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona will make a bid of 30 million euro° for Bayern Munich wing attacker and French international Franck Ribéry (25).

Although Bayern Munich refused last summer a 40 million euro bid by Chelsea for Ribéry, the German club could now agree with a transfer as a consecuence of the pressure by the player.

The paper claims that Barcelona has made the player a contract offer for four (plus two) years including a fixed year salary of 5 million euro.

One of Ribéry's agents, Jean-Pierre Bernès, didn't want to confirm or deny that he has been holding talks with Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain since last month (read more here), although he said that Barcelona is a possible destination for Ribéry if he would leave Bayern.

Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge would meanwhile have asked for Barcelona attacker and Belarus international Alexander Hleb (27) (read more here) and Barcelona president Joan Laporta would have said that the player is for sale.

Barcelona, that paid 15 (plus 3) million euro for Hleb last year, would now asking a transfer fee between 14 and 18 million euro°. The transfer of Hleb could be used to lower the transfer price of Ribéry, although Hleb seems to prefer at this moment a return to the English Premier League or a move to Italy.

Asked about the new rumours linking Ribéry with a move to Barcelona (read more here), the player's agent Alain Miglaccio has also said in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 that Barcelona is one of the options for the player: "If Ribéry leaves, it will be to go to a club like Barcelona, where you have only great players. To play at Barça would be something phenomenal for him, like for every football player."

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Deal with Ribery and pre-agreement with Bayern
Hleb could already leave this summer

Deal with Ribery and pre-agreement with Bayern

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona has reached an agreement with Bayern Munich wing attacker and French international Franck Ribéry (25).

Ribery would be the the first option of Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola who is looking to sign a winger and the player would like to be part of a more competitive team.

Barcelona would therefore already have found a deal with the Frenchman's agent on the duration of the contract and the salary the player will receive. Ribery would sign a contract for the next four seasons, until the summer of 2013.

Bayern Munich nevertheless wouldn't be willing to let the player go and the negotiations with the German club are expected to be very difficult. The fact that Bayern Munich is interested in some Barcelona players that might leave the club could make the talks a little easier (read more here).

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona has already reached a formal pre-agreement with Bayern Munich for the transfer of Ribéry, who is represented by Jean-Pierre Bernès and Alain Migliaccio, although the deal will only be finalized at the end of the season. The good relationship between the presidents of both clubs, Franz Beckenbauer and Joan Laporta, would have helped in the negotiations.

There would be unanimity among Barcelona officials and staff members that Ribéry should be a top transfer target for next season. The player likes the attacking style of Guardiola's team and Barcelona left back defender Eric Abidal is a close friend of Ribéry. The French winger has made clear that he wants to leave this summer and Bayern would have accepted that they cannot keep the player any longer.

Read more:
Ribery confirms Barcelona interest
Bayern ready to sell Ribery in the summer
Renewed Bayern Munich interest for Hleb