Bendter rejected Barcelona for Arsenal renewal

British tabloid The Daily Mirror claims that Arsenal forward and Denmark international Nicklas Bendtner (21) rejected the interest of Barcelona, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich before signing a new five-year contract at Arsenal.

Asked about the issue, the player's father and agent Thomas Bendtner is quoted by the tabloid as confirming the interest of several European top clubs: "Many clubs wanted to sign Nicklas, and some of them are among the biggest clubs in the world. It would have been very easy to find a new, great club for him, and when the biggest clubs join in, then it is really flattering for Nicklas.

But still Nicklas was never in doubt, that what he wanted the most was to stay in Arsenal. It has taken a long time to finish the contract, but the two parties have never doubted, that they wanted each other in the end. He is so happy for his new contract.

And the most important thing is, that he, in Arsene Wenger has a manager, who shows him a lot of confidence. Wenger gives Nicklas space and time to develop both as a person and a player, and that is really unique on football's top level. Nicklas feels, it is ideal for him to stay in Arsenal."

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Wenger: "When I see Barcelona, to me it is art"
Eboue dismisses Barcelona rumours

Last-minute interest in Schalke goalkeeper Neuer

British tabloid The Daily Mirror claims that Barcelona is interested in Schalke 04 goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (23).

Barcelona reportedly wants to give Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés some competition this season and would already have made tentative enquiries about the German keeper.

The club would now plan to move quickly for Neuer and is believed to going to make a firm bid before the summer transfer window closes later today. Schalke would nevertheless not be willing to let the player leave cheaply and the German club would be asking a transfer fee of around 14 million euros for their goalkeeper.

Manchester United is also said to be interested in Neuer. With Edwin van der Sar approaching the end of his career, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson would have stepped up his search for a new goalkeeper, with the German being one of the candidates. Ferguson has nevertheless said that he will not make any further signings before the transfer window closes.

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Manuel Neuer (Schalke 04)
Bid for Schalke right back Rafinha
Secret talks with Rakitic


Watch a video of Neuer here:

Lampard: "Barcelona yet again toughest rivals"

In an interview with British tabloid The Daily Mirror, Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard looked back at last season's Champions League defeat against Barcelona:

"After the Barça game it was probably one of the worst atmospheres I've ever had in a dressing room. In football you obviously win and lose a lot of games and you have bad lows but this one was horrible.

It was bad because of the way we lost it. We should have won. We were all upset with the referee and certain things. We were upset and angry then. But you have to get on with it. You can't forget it but it's football and you do have to move on. And we have.

The aim now is obviously to try and win it because in the last few years we've come so close. Barcelona are certainly yet again our toughest rivals in Europe this season. We have played them so many times now, we've played them three or four times in the last six years in the Champions League and they are definitely the most talented team. But there are so many good teams out there. You have to be ready for any of them."

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CL 1/2, 2nd leg: Chelsea-Barcelona 1-1
The Pictures: Chelsea
There was no referee conspiracy

Barcelona still trying to sign Robinho

British tabloid The Daily Mirror claims that Barcelona is still interested in Manchester City left winger and Brazilian international Robinho (25) (read more here).

Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would have earlier this week been trying to contact Manchester City manager Mark Hughes by phone in a bid to convince Manchester City to sell Robinho.

Although both coaches had reportedly chatted at the Camp Nou before last week's Joan Gamper Trophy game and Guardiola was then told there was no chance of Robinho leaving, a well known intermediary would have suggested that the English club could sign Arjen Robben and told Barcelona that Robinho would be willing to move. Sources at Manchester City would nevertheless have said to the tabloid that their transfer activity for this summer is over.

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Barcelona close to signing Robinho on loan
Txiki has been in contact with 22 players
Barcelona will try again for Robinho

Barcelona monitoring situation of Riera

British tabloid The Daily Mirror claims that Barcelona is monitoring the situation of Liverpool left winger and Spanish international Albert Riera (27) after the player was left out of the Liverpool squad last weekend (read more here).

Barcelona would have been made aware that Riera could be available before the transfer window closes at the end of the month. If Liverpool are willing to listen to offers, Riera might want to leave the English Premier league to return to Spain. Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid are also said to be interested in the winger.

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Mascherano disappointed about failed transfer
Barcelona interested in Liverpool winger Riera
Reina keeps Barcelona door open

Barcelona will try again for Vidic

British tabloid The Sunday Mirror claims that Barcelona will make another attempt to sign Manchester United central defender and Serbian international Nemanja Vidic (27) this summer.

Rumours that Vidic is unsettled in Manchester continue to circulate and Barcelona would still be hoping a deal can be sealed. Barcelona has reportedly been given encouragement by sources close to the player suggesting Vidic wants to leave because his wife Ana does not enjoy living in England.

Vidic, who has three years left on his contract and is currently out with a calf injury, remains a key player for Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, but the emergence of Jonny Evans last season and the consistency of Rio Ferdinand could make the coach change his mind.

Barcelona would even have made it clear to Vidic's advisers that the club will try again during the winter transfer window next year if they fail to sign the Serbian centre-back this month. Italian clubs AC Milan and Inter Milan are also believed to be monitoring the situation of Vidic.

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Vidic confirms Barcelona offer
Barcelona has been in contact with 22 players
Barcelona considering bids for Evans and Kompany

West Ham confident about signing Gudjohnsen

Asked about the rumours linking West Ham United with several players among which Barcelona attacker and Iceland international Eidur Gudjohnsen (30) (read more here), West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola is quoted by British tabloid The Daily Mirror as confirming that the English club wants to sign two more forwards:

"We're looking for at least two strikers, that's the idea. We are focused on that but we also know that it's not an easy market.

There are not many good players around and those that are around are very difficult to get because when a team has a good player they don't release him very easily. But we are confident. I think West Ham right now is an attractive team and I'm sure I will find the right person."

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Wage demands Gudjohnsen block West Ham move
Gudjohnsen could join West Ham on loan

Barcelona preparing bid for Mascherano

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain has spoken this week to Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez to confirm that Barcelona is interested in Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25).

Liverpool wouldn't be happy with the fact that Barcelona has first contacted the player (read more here) and isn't anyway willing to let Mascherano go. A formal offer by Real Madrid would already have been rejected.

Barcelona reportedly nevertheless thinks that Mascherano is a key player for the new project and will try everything to sign the midfielder, who wants to join Barcelona and whose agent Walter Tamer has therefore no plans to meet with Madrid officials.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona is preparing a first bid of 20 million euro° for Mascherano. Benítez would have given Begiristain the permission to make an offer although he also said that doesn't want to let the Argentinian leave this summer.

British tabloid The Daily Mirror claims that Barcelona is ready to make a bid of 30 million euro° for Mascherano. Sources close to the player would have said that he would be interested in speaking to Barcelona, that might be willing to more than triple his current salary. Liverpool is expected to reject every offer, although the club may have to hand Mascherano improved terms to keep him happy.

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New bid for Mascherano coming up
Laporta comments on the transfer market
The report of Txiki: Mascherano priority

Eto'o has found a house to live in Manchester

British tabloid The Daily Mirror claims that Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o (28) will join Manchester City in the next few days.

The player would already have found a place to live in Hale, a village in Greater Manchester. Eto'o would rent a Georgian style house owned by English cricketer Andrew Flintoff for around 300 000 euro a year. The property reportedly has a pool and gym and has easy access to the airport and City's training ground.

British tabloid The Daily Star claims that Barcelona has already accepted the 30 million euro° offer by Manchester City to finance the bid for Valencia forward David Villa. British tabloid The Sun claims that Manchester City has offered Eto'o a year salary of over 15 million euro, which would double his current wages.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Manchester City's last bid was 27 million euro° (plus 3 million euro in incentives). Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona has received a formal offer from Manchester City of 25,5 million euro° (plus 2,5 million euro in incentives), of which 15 million euro could go to Eto'o as a transfer bonus as indicated by Barcelona sources. Eto'o would have been offered a five-year contract worth 10 million euro net a year but sources close to the player would have said that Eto'o is not convinced by the sporting project of the English club.

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Agent Eto'o calls for press conference
Eto'o to sign for Manchester City next week
Laporta comments on the transfer market

Manchester United preparing a bid for Toure

British tabloid The Daily Mirror claims that Manchester United is preparing a move for Barcelona defensive midfielder and Ivorian international Yaya Touré (26) (read more here).

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has reportedly targeted the midfielder as fears grow about Owen Hargreaves's ability to overcome the tendinitis problems that have plagued his Old Trafford career so far.

If Barcelona would sign Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25), the English champions will be encouraged to bid for Touré, with Ferguson having become aware during the Champions League final that he needs to add a physical presence to his midfield .

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OFFICIAL: Toure renews until 2012
Meeting on Mascherano in Barcelona
Manchester United wants to sign Toure

Eto'o to sign for Manchester City next week

British tabloid News of the World claims that Manchester City have completed the transfer of Barcelona forward and cameroon inernational Samuel Eto'o (28).

Barcelona would receive a transfer fee of 29,5 million euro°, while Eto'o would earn a year salary of 9 million euro net, with further bonuses tied to success. The Cameroonian is expected to travel to Manchester in the next few days to finalise the deal.

A source close to the deal is quoted as saying: "The player could have earned similar money at Barca. But Eto'o and his people think City could be going places and is excited by the type of players they are attracting."

British tabloid The Daily Mirror nevertheless claims that a delegation from Manchester City met with Barcelona officials last week. The English Premier League club, who has been encouraged by Barcelona to make a move for Eto'o, is nevertheless not at all willing to pay the asking price of 47 million euro°, which is the double of what Manchester City has in mind.

Catalan sports paper Sport on the other hand claims that Eto'o, whose current contract expires in the summer of 2010, is not willing to move first and is waiting for Barcelona to offer him a renewal like the club has been announcing. The initial plan of the player is to start the pre-season with Barcelona.

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Eto'o holding talks with Manchester City
Laporta comments on the transfer market
Barcelona hopes Eto'o will retire at the club

Mascherano hounoured by Barcelona interest

Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to Spain (read more here), Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25) has said in an interview with Spanish sports weekly paper Don Balón that he feels honoured by the interest:

"It's a great honour. For me this is a big recognition because we're talking about top clubs here. I feel comfortable in Liverpool but it's always good to know that teams like Barça or Madrid are interested in you. I feel very grateful."

Asked about the rumours linking Mascherano with a move to Barcelona, Barcelona president Joan Laporta said in an interview with Spanish radio station Onda Cero that a transfer won't be easy: "We're interested, it's a great player but it will be difficult to sign him. It's a key player for Liverpool."

British tabloid The Daily Mirror meanwhile claims that Liverpool may have to be foreced to treble Mascherano's wages. The cause of the Argentine's unhappiness at Anfield is the fact that he is paid considerably less than the majority of the squad. British tabloid The Sun also claims that Mascherano is one of the poorest paid first-team regulars and that Liverpool will have to more than double his salary to keep him at the club.

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Meeting on Mascherano in Barcelona
The report of Txiki (2) : Mascherano priority
Liverpool rejects first bid for Mascherano

Four English clubs ask for Gudjohnsen

British tabloid The Daily Mirror claims that Fulham, Aston Villa, Everton and West Ham are interested in Barcelona attacker and Iceland international Eidur Gudjohnsen (30).

The four English Premier League clubs would be among a string of clubs that have enquired about the player.

Barcelona reportedly confirmed last night that they are willing to listen to offers for the attacker. It is believed the club would be ready to let Gudjohnsen go for a transfer fee of around 4,5 million euro° although they also could try to include him in another transfer operation.

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Liverpool rejects first bid for Mascherano

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona has made Liverpool a few days ago a 20 million euro° bid for Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25) through the player's agent Walter Tamer but that the English club has rejected the offer.

Tamer would then have raised the bid to 20 million euro plus the loan or the transfer of a Barcelona player who can leave the club but Liverpool doesn't seem willing to consider the offer unless more important players are offered.

Asked about the rumours linking Mascherano with a move to Barcelona, Federico Vitali, another agent of the player, said in an interview with Catalan radio station Ona FM that there aren't direct negotiations between the two clubs at this moment: "Barcelona is of course interested in Javier Mascherano but until Barcelona start talking with Liverpool, no progress will be made. It's clear that Mascherano wants to play at Barcelona, every Argentinian player would want that."

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Liverpool asks 40 million euro° plus the loan of Barcelona forward Bojan (18). British tabloid The Daily Mail claims that Liverpool wants to let the player go for a fee of at least 41,5 million euro°, while Barcelona would be ready to offer 24 million euro° plus Bojan. Sport claims that a loan of Bojan is not an option. British newspaper The Times claims that Mascherano is valued at 36 million euro°.

British tabloid The Daily Mirror on the other hand claims that Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez has made it clear that Mascherano will not be allowed to leave at any price and that the coach will now call a summet with the player's agent to insist that the Argentinian midfielder must honour the three years left on his contract.

Spanish radio station Cadena Ser meanwhile claims that Real Madrid made an 30 to 35 million euro° bid for Mascherano. Catalan radio station RAC 1 claims, based upon sources from the entourage of the player, that Madrid didn't yet make a formal offer. The Times claims that Madrid is prepared to pay 45 million euro° for Mascherano and Liverpool right back Arbeloa and that Benítez is close to conceding defeat in his attempts to keep he Argentinian.

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Meeting on Mascherano in Barcelona
The report of Txiki (2) : Mascherano priority

Barcelona and Milan talk about Eto'o

Catalan sports papers Sport and El Mundo Deportivo claim that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain met yesterday with Italian intermediary Ernesto Bronzetti, the representative of AC Milan for the Spanish market, to discuss the transfer summer so far.

Sport claims that AC Milan is interested in Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o (28) and that Bronzetti has sounded out Barcelona on the situation of the Cameroonian striker.

British tabloid The Daily Mirror meanwhile claims that Manchester City confirmed yesterday that they have held preliminary talks over a deal to bring Eto'o to Manchester. The English club would offer Eto'o a year salary of 8 million euro and officials from City have reportedly been in Spain for talks. The club would be confident they will be able to sign the player for 29 million euro°.

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Eto'o could have deal with Milan for 2010
Manchester City makes Eto'o a new offer
Barcelona wants to renew Eto'o

Manchester United confident of signing Eto'o

British newspaper The Guardian and The Times report that Manchester United is interested in Barcelona forward and Cameroon striker Eto'o (28).

The latter claims that the English champions are lining up a move for Eto'o. Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is eager to find a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo as soon as possible and would have made a firm inquiry about Eto'o.

Manchester United would be confident of getting the striker and looks like beating their city-rivals Manchester City. While City reportedly offered 30 million euro° for Eto'o and was prepared to make him the highest-paid player in the Premier League, United would hope to secure a deal for less.

Italian sports paper La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Barcelona has offered Eto'o, whose current contract expires in 2010, a three-year renewal worth 7,5 million euro a year, while Eto'o's agent Mesalles is asking ten million euro. Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would have set 20 July as deadline: when the pre-season starts, the coach want to know who will be his centre forward next season.

Asked about the renewal negotiations, Barcelona president Joan Laporta said in an interview with Spanish news agency EFE that he hopes to renew the contract of Eto'o: "A lot of clubs want to sign him. We'll do what we can to renew him, to extend his contract because in my opinion he's the best goalscorer in the world and a very professional player. Things depend on two parties but I believe we can reach an agreement, although not any price."

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that like last summer Barcelona has put Eto'o on the market and has discretely offered the player to several clubs. British tabloid The Daily Mirror claims that Barcelona has offered Eto'o to Liverpool in exchange for Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argetnine international Javier Mascherano (25) (read more here).

Read more:
Agent Eto'o repeats wish to continue
Mascherano ideal candidate to strengthen midfield
Eto'o close to joining Manchester City

Barcelona ready to make bid for Cole

British tabloid The Daily Mirror claims that Barcelona is ready to make a bid of 13,5 to 17 million euro° for Chelsea left back defender and English international Ashley Cole (28) (read more here).

Chelsea is not willing to give in to the wage demands of Cole, whose current contract expires in 2011 and who want to sign a renewal that would make him earn as much as the club's top earners.

New Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is keen to keep Cole but has been told the club will not stretch their wage budget to accommodate him. Real Madrid and Manchester City would also be interested in the English left back.


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Barcelona preparing bid for Chelsea left back Cole

Eto'o and Henry top targets for Manchester City

British tabloid The Daily Mirror claims that Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o (28) and Barcelona forward and French international Thierry Henry are, two of the three main transfer targets of Manchester City (read more here).

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes will have over 300 million euro to spend this summer and the club plans to make huge salary offers to tempt top players who otherwise might be put off signing for the club because they are not in Europe next season.

British tabloid The People claims that Manchester City is ready to make a 35 million euro° bid for Eto'o. The player's agent Josep Maria Mesalles would have met representatives of the English club last week. Manchester City would have offered the striker a four-year deal worth more than 8 million euro a year.

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Eto'o close to joining Manchester City
Messi rejects record offer by Manchester City
Manchester City monitoring Eto'o and Henry

Gudjohnsen could return to the Premier League

Asked about his future, Barcelona attacker and Iceland international Eidur Gudjohnsen told the club's official website that he didn't yet make a decision:

"In football, you never know. It's already usual that people think I will leave in the summer but I'm still here. I didn't yet think or talk about my future, but my intention is to talk with the coach this summer and to listen to what he has to say, what he thinks about me. And then we'll see what will happen."

In an interview with British tabloid The Daily Mirror, Gudjohnsen, whose contract expires in the summer of 2010, said that it's likely he will return to England although he will first discuss his future with Barcelona manager Guardiola: "Of course it would be very easy to move back to England. I'll take the summer to look at the bigger picture and in the end my decision will be based on football reasons, nothing else.

Without blowing my own trumpet, I think returning to England is probably inevitable. There is a lot of interest from the Premier League. I had a great time in England and I know the game inside out. I'm well known in England and enjoyed great success there. People know my experience, know I will adapt easy to the football.

To be part of a club like Barcelona is a privilege. And who knows I might enjoy it for one more year. It's difficult to leave a club like Barcelona. My young boys are playing for the Barcelona academy. My focus stays on the football, though, and it has to be about football. I still have ambition. I still have a lot of football in me.

If the manager tells me next season I will get even less opportunities then I will look for another option. Any player wants minutes on the pitch. In a treblewinning season, though, I have played my part. I know I'm not the most important guy in the squad but to have 70 games and to have played in 30 or 40 of them, I think I have won the treble and contributed as much as anyone."

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Everton interested in Gudjohnsen
Talks on future Gudjohnsen in the summer

Barcelona preparing bid for Cesc

British tabloid The Daily Mirror claims that Barcelona has made Arsenal midfielder and Spanish international Cesc Fàbregas (22) their priority target for the summer transfer market.

Barcelona would therefore be preparing a bid of 45 million euro° for the return of the Catalan player.

Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger might this time decide that, with a restructuring of his squad coming up and not much money to spend, this is an offer that's too good to turn down. Cesc was earlier this week quoted as unconfirmedly saying in an interview with Catalan radio station Ona Fm that every footballer dreams of playing for Barcelona.

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Barcelona ready to move for Cesc
Henry, Eto'o, Toure and Keita are for sale