Barcelona pushing hard for Adebayor

British newspaper The Guardian claims that Barcelona is preparing a final 38 million euro° bid for Arsenal forward and Togo international Emmanuel Adebayor (24).

A 30 million euro° offer made by Barcelona sports vice president Marc Ingla in London earlier this week was rejected. With the initial asking price being 45 million euro°, Arsenal made nevertheless clear that they are prepared to sell if the price is right.

Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger was initially opposed to a move but the mixed messages from Adebayor and his entourage about the future of the player and the difficult negotiations on a pay rise seem to have burnt the bridges between the player and the club. Wenger is understood to be disappointed by Adebayor's attitude and doesn't want to hold the player in London against his will.

Madrid sports tabloid Marca meanwhile claims that Barcelona sources have confirmed that the club has not yet made any formal bid for Adebayor so far and it is not planning to launch a bid before Eto'o has left the club.

Asked about how things stand at this moment, Adebayor's agent Stéphane Courbis has yesterday said in an interview with French football weekly paper France Football that at this point all options are still open: "At this moment, no decision has been taken and everything remains possible. Because there were too many things written lately, the player and myself will not speak with the press anymore at this stage."

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Adebayor wouldn't say 'no' to Barcelona

Asked about the rumours linking him with Barcelona, Arsenal forward and Togolese international Emmanuel Adebayor (24) has said in an interview with Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo that he heard the news through the press: "Nobody has spoken directly to me or to my agent at this moment. But maybe things will change tomorrow, I don't know."

The Arsenal striker certainly does not reject the possibility of ending up in Barcelona: "Of course I want to play with Barcelona because it's one of the biggest clubs in the world. So if Barcelona would make an offer and they come to an agreement with Arsenal, I would be happy to move. You just don't say 'no' to Barcelona. I would like to play there, now, in two years or in ten years. But at this moment I'm an Arsenal player. One has to wait for an offer and let's see what happens then. I won't get nervous about all this, I plan to enjoy my holidays."

Adebayor acknowledges that the city of Barcelona is attractive to him and could make the decision easier but he doesn't want to leave with a fight: "If you're a good player, it's normal that your club doesn't want to let you go. Arsenal would ask a lot of money and you should see if Barcelona is ready to pay. I'm thankful for the chance Arsenal gave me, so if I would have to leave, I want to do it in a good way."

Stéphane Courbis, the agent of Adebayor, meanwhile denied the interview to British sports site Setanta Sports saying that the quotes were fabricated: “When you know how great his relationship with Arsenal and with Arsene Wenger is, you do not expect him to say what is written in the press. Emmanuel is not stupid. It is stupidity from journalists, who even quoted me in England, whereas my English is not good at all.”

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