Valencia willing to listen to offers for Silva

Asked about the rumours linking Valencia left winger and Spanish international David Silva (23) with several European clubs among which Barcelona (read more here), Valencia sports vice-president Fernando Gómez has suggested in an interview with Italian television channel Italia 1 that the club is ready to listen to offers for the player:

"A lof of important clubs are interested in him. There hasn't been any concrete offer yet and we don't plan to offer our top players to other clubs. The value of Silva is certainly not 18 million euro like has been said. 25 million euro? I cannot say anything about the money issue.

We don't put a price tag on our players, especially not on the star players. A football player is worth what others want to pay for him. We will wait and see which offers will come in. But we don't have a fixed asking price. His wish is to stay at Valencia but if he changes his mind and wants to leave, he will have to tell us where he would like to go."

Read more:
Asenjo, Zhirkov and Silva main transfer targets
Poll result: Next season's left winger
Possible new bid for Silva

Barcelona insisting for Trezeguet

Italian television channel Italia 1 claims that Barcelona economic vice president Ferran Soriano will travel to Turin in the coming days to start negotiations on Juventus forward David Trezeguet (30) (read more here).

With Barcelona having put down a first offer of 15 million euro°, talks seems to get difficult since Juventus only wants to let the French striker go for 25 million euro°, a sum that directly would be reinvested in the transfer of Ajax forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Soriano will meet tomorrow with Juventus chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc to make the Italian club a final offer. Juventus would at least want to receive 20 million euro°.

New Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola thinks that Trezeguet could form a good duo with his former team-mate and close friend Thierry Henry. Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain would have contacted the entourage of Trezeguet trying to convince the player to push his current club.

Trezeguet doesn't really have a priority and wants to leave the matter to the clubs. Juventus would be willing to cooperate with a transfer recognizing the career of the Frenchman at the club but wants to receive the right price.

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Trezeguet is having enough from the tactical and physical play in the Italian league and would therefore be in favour of a move to Barcelona.

Read more:

Trezeguet serious option to replace Eto'o
Mourinho takes Deco with him to Inter

Transfer history: Iaquinta (Juventus)

Ronaldinho realizes it's over

Although this weekend there has been a lot of speculation and comments about the possible transfer of Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho (28) to Milan, the deal has not been closed yet and it's not entirely clear if it will be officially announced soon. An update.

1. Ronaldinho
2. AC Milan
3. Barcelona
4. Inter Milan
5. Other clubs
6. Transfer price

1. Ronaldinho
Roberto de Assís, the brother and agent of Ronaldinho, declared Saturday afternoon in an (unconfirmed) interview with Brazilian sports site Globo Esporte that the talks with Milan are actually just starting: "There is no real negotiation going on. What happened is that Milan has requested authorization to start talking with the player and that we had a first meeting." Roberto said a deal doesn't have to be expected soon, although the good relation between the parties could make things easier.

Saturday night, Roberto watched the Italian league game Juventus-Milan alongside AC Milan vice president Adrino Galliani. He told Italian television channel Italia 1 that his brother wants to join Milan and that he therefore will try to find an agreement: "But at the moment we are still at an early stage. We have asked Barcelona for permission to begin talks so that we can reach a deal. Now we are waiting for a response from them."

Roberto said yesterday an interview with French television channel Canal+ that the parties are coming closer: "Milan is enthusiastic about a possible transfer. Our positions have come closer, but you cannot say the deal is done. At this moment we still have a contract with Barcelona."

Meanwhile, Madrid sports tabloid As says that Ronaldinho is starting to realize his time in Barcelona is over, while he always had planned to stay until his contract expires in 2010, even convincing his brother who wanted to transfer Ronaldinho after the World Cup in Germany in 2006. People from the entourage of the player would have told the tabloid that Ronaldinho, who has disappeared from public life, is feeling "sad" and that he's going through some "bad days".

2. AC Milan
Milan vice president Galliani kept declaring the deal with Ronaldinho is in fact already closed: "When before we had a principal agreement, now we have an agreement. Barcelona has given us the permission to negotiate with the player and now that we have found a deal, we will return to talk with Barcelona."

Catalan sports paper Sport confirms that the deal with Milan is complete and claims that the Italian club wants to officially announce the transfer as soon as possible to please the fans after a disappointing season.

Milan general director Ariedo Braida said on Saturday that the transfer is "a done deal". It is believed that Ronaldinho will sign a contract for four seasons, until 2012, and earn 8 million euro a year (read more here).

3. Barcelona
Barcelona officials don't want to react to the latest developments (read more here). Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain said on Saturday that he doesn't want to talk about proceedings but only about facts.

Asked about a meeting last week between Begiristain, Roberto de Assís and a Milan representative (read more here), Barcelona sports vice president Marc Ingla seemed to confirm that meeting by saying: "It's normal that Txiki talks with people from the world of football."

Meanwhile, Catalan sports paper Sport reports that rumours are going around that Barcelona president Joan Laporta has allowed AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi to use Ronaldinho in his campaign for the Italian elections and that the whole thing has been a set up.

4. Inter
(this subject will treated in a separate contribution that will be published tomorrow)

5. Other clubs
Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Roberto de Assís has offered his brother to Real Madrid (read more here) as soon as Barcelona announced to him that they didn't count on Ronaldinho for next season. Real Madrid doesn't see Ronaldinho as a priority and is now first focusing on winning the Liga. If the player is still available after the season, they will look at the option.

Roberto would also continue to talk with English Premier League clubs Chelsea and Manchester City (read more here).

6. Transfer price
Media reports suggest that the transfer price could become a serious obstacle in the transfer process. Barcelona has rejected the initial Milan offer of 20 million euro and is asking 30 million euro for Ronaldinho (read more here). While leaving on a free transfer, like Roberto had asked in the beginning, doesn't seem an option anymore, Roberto and Milan still could consider to use the FIFA transfer regulations allowing Ronaldinho to leave for 16 million euro.

Catalan sport paper Sport claims that Barcelona is willing to be flexible but that they would prefer to receive at least 27 million euro, the price they paid to French club Paris Saint-Germain in 2003. Inter Milan would be ready to pay 25 million euro, Manchester City wouldn't mind to put 30 or even 40 million euro on the table in an attempt to win the race for the Brazilian star.

(read more on the Ronaldinho transfer story here)

Inter and Juventus rival for Deco

With Barcelona midfielder and Portuguese international Deco (30) probably on his way out in the summer, a tough battle for the player between Italian top clubs could be upcoming. Italian sports paper Tuttosport claims that both Inter Milan and Juventus have set their eyes on Deco since both clubs are aiming to strengthen their midfield in the next transfer window.

With Inter sports director Marco Branca eyeing Deco for a while now, Juventus would recently also have contacted Barcelona to inform the club about their interest. Inter is nevertheless said to be the favourites to land the Portuguese since the club would be most willing to accept the high economic demands of the player. To reduce the cash spending, Inter could well try to offer Barcelona an exchange with São Paulo forward and Inter loan out Adriano (26).

Italian television channel Italia 1 claims that a transfer price of around 10 million euro° could be enough to close the deal with Barcelona, where Deco has a contract until 2010. Despite the player's age, Inter manager Roberto Mancini considers the money a good investment, also because the Portuguese can play different positions and systems. The good relationship between Jorge Mendes, the agent of Deco, and Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti would be an advantage to keep off other interested clubs.

Read more:
Deco denies Juventus
Who could go?
Deco thinks about England or Atletico

Inter is monitoring Marquez

Italian television channel Italia 1 claims that Inter Milan is closely following the situation of Barcelona central defender Rafael Márquez (29).

While the arrival of a new central defender in Barcelona could lead to the departure of the Mexican international, Inter is looking to bring in at least one important player to strengthen their defensive department, that was upset this season by injuries and sudden dips in performances. Márquez is said to be on the list of Inter manager Roberto Mancini for many years. A transfer fee of 10 million euro (°) is being put forward.

Lining up Lippi

Italian television channel Italia 1 claims that former Italian national team coach Marcello Lippi (59), who wants to return to the bench as of next season, would have two main options: Barcelona and Juventus (read more here).

Lippi would be a top candidate to replace current manager Frank Rijkaard in Barcelona, cause former Chelsea manager José Mourinho is not convincing everyone. Six-seven months ago, Lippi would have received the first indication of a Barcelona board member that an offer could be underway. The Italian manager would be very attracted by the idea to coach the team.

Milan welcomes Zambrotta but rejects Ronaldinho

In an interview with Italian television channel Italia 1, AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi commented on the interest of his club to bring in Barcelona full back Gianluca Zambrotta (31) next summer: "He's an excellent player who has expressed his desire to join Milan. I hope we will be able to find an agreement with his club."

Asked about the rumours linking Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho (27) to Milan, Berlusconi said he never really believed the transfer would go through. Specifying that, although the Brazilian is a great player, his character probably wouldn't allow him to connect well with some members of the Milan squad.

Does Lampard wear the breeches?

Italian television station Italia I claims that Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard (29) is still considering leaving Chelsea at the end of this season. The player is quoted as saying: “Going to another country, getting to know another language and culture, would certainly make me a better person.”

Lampard, who still didn’t sign a renewal with his current club and who due to a new ruling could leave Chelsea for some 7-8 million euro, would be close to make a decision about his future, with Barcelona and Juventus being named as the most likely destinations for the English international. Lampard’s fiancé and the mother of his two children, Catalan ex-model Elen Rives, would be wanting to leave London and return to her home ground.

Ronaldinho not keen on Milano

During an interview on the Italian television station Italia 1, Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho (27) told he was in no way interested in a move to Milan or Inter. The Brazilian said that knowing a big club appreciates your work is a stimulus, but that he's only trying to get into a new momentum so he can play at the top level for Barcelona.