Srna agent confirms Barcelona contacts

Asked about the new rumours linking Shakhtar Donetsk right back defender and Croatian international Darijo Srna (27) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), the player's agent Damir Stimac confirmed in an interview with Croatian newspaper Jutarnji list that there have been contacts two months ago but said that a deal is now unlikely:

"Yes, Barcelona wants him, it is not a new story. Some talks took place at the beginning of June, but now there are only 12 days left before the end of this transfer window so I think that it's not very realistic to think that he will now move to Barcelona.

Too many things have to be agreed, like his wage, as he is big player and he should earn at least 4 or 5 million euros per season. But it's well-known that taxes in Ukraine are only 18 per cent, a lot lower than in Spain or England. But if a transfer happens, than my prediction is that he will rather move to an Eglish club than to Barcelona. We are talking about a club, which is right now selling a right-back and the coach is just in love with Srna's style of play."

Read more:
Shakhtar Donetsk right back Srna is an option
Eight names on right-back short list
No official bid for Shakhtar right back Srna

Eight names on right-back short list

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola has been proposed by the club a short list, including videos, of candidates to strenghten the right back positon.

It's now up to the coach to inidicate his priority so Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona director of football Raúl Sanllehí can then start to move for the player.

Barcelona would be looking for a quality player, with good technical skills, an attacking way of playing, who's physically strong and agressive.

The names on the short list would include the following eight players:

César Azpilicueta (19 - Osasuna)
Cicinho (29 - Roma)
Emmanuel Eboué (26 - Arsenal)
Zdenek Grygera (29 - Juventus)
Jonás Gutiérrez (26 - Newcastle)
Andoni Iraola (27 - Athletic)
Rafinha (23 - Schalke)
Darijo Srna (27 - Shakhtar)

Read more:
Decisive day for transfer Eboue
Looking for a right back defender
Cicinho and Grygera also options for right back

No official bid for Shakhtar right back Srna

Asked about the rumours linking Shakhtar Donetsk right back defender and Croatian international Darijo Srna (27) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), Shakhtar manager Mircea Lucescu has told journalists that there's no official offer:

"We've only have one real offer from Barcelona, for Chygrynskiy. This is all the information I have. I'm sure that all West European clubs are interested in this player and there are many offers for him, but the club has not received any official one."

Read more:
Barcelona considering bid for Shakhtar defenders
Negotiations with Shakhtar on Chygrynskiy
Shakhtar Donetsk right back Srna is an option


Watch a video of Srna:

Next season's team (1)

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona wants to sign five players this summer: a left back defender, a central defender, a defensive midfielder, a left winger and a centre forward.

They give an overview of how the "ideal" squad could look like next season.


Goalkeeper: Valdés
Back-ups: Pinto, Miño

The deal on the renewal of the contract of Valdés until 2014 has closed all negotiations with possible substitutes like Reina (Liverpool), Asenjo (Valladolid) or Diego López (Villarreal). Pinto will stay second goalkeeper. Barcelona considered to sign Moyà (Mallorca) to compete with Pinto, but he looks to be close to Valencia and Miño (Barcelona Atlètic) will be promoted.

Right back defender: Alves
Back-up: Puyol

Barcelona wanted to sign a back-up for Alves, but with Srna (Shakhtar) being too expensive and Bruno (Almería) having found a deal with Valencia, Puyol will act as alternative option on the right next season.

Central defenders: Piqué and Puyol
Back-ups: Márquez, Henrique, Cáceres, Milito, *new guy*

Piqué, Puyol and Márquez are expected to rotate as starters. The club considers to let Cáceres leave on loan. Henrique will do the pre-season with the first team but it's not sure if he will be able to stay. It's unclear when Milito will be back from injury. Because of all of these uncertainties, Barcelona is planning to buy a new centre-back. Chygrynskiy (Shakhtar) is the first option, Bruno Alves (Porto) the alternative.

Read more:
Barcelona planning six transfers
Guardiola wants larger squad and new players
The report of Txiki (1) : Three or four transfers

The report of Txiki (2) : Mascherano priority

Catalan sports paper Sport reports that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain presented the board on Thursday a report about the current transfer market. The club would want to sign three or four players this summer (read more here).

Defense
There would be a personal deal with Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luis (23) but the negotiations with Deportivo are still ongoing (read more here). Shakhtar Donetsk right back defender Darijo Srna (27) wouldn't be an option anymore since Barcelona cannot pay his current salary (read more here).

The situation of Porto central defender Bruno Alves (27) is being monitored but the club is not yet moving for him (read more here). Shakhtar Donetsk central defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22) would cost 15 million euro° and seems at this moment the most likely candidate for the centre-back position (read more here).

Midfield
Barcelona's main priority is to sign a defensive midfielder, so the team can count on six first class midfielders and can deal with the absences of Barcelona players Touré and Keita at the beginning of next year due to the African Cup of Nations. Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25) is the first name on the list (read more here). The player wants to come but it will be difficult to find a deal with Liverpool.

Read more:
The report of Txiki (1) : Three or four transfers
Meeting on Mascherano in Barcelona
Barcelona considering bid for Shakhtar defenders

Barcelona considering bid for Shakhtar defenders

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona is closely following Shakhtar Donetsk right back defender and Croatian international Darijo Srna (27 - picture) and Shakhtar Donetsk central defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22) (read more here).

With both players being valued at 15 million euro° each, Barcelona could make a move for the two although the salary of Srna might be a problem.

Asked about the rumours linking him with several European top clubs among which Barcelona, Srna unconfirmedly said earlier this week in an interview with Croatian sports paper Sportske Novosti that he has two concrete offers: "Where there is smoke, there is fire. The truth is that I have two definite offers from top clubs in Europe, but I cannot name them. That would not be right. I haven't made a final decision yet. In two or three days, the clubs will present offers in writing, and after that we will get an answer from Shakhtar president Ahmetov."

Read more:
Shakhtar Donetsk right back Srna is an option
Deal with Shakhtar Donetsk winger Willian
Two Shakhtar defenders will be scouted tomorrow

Shakhtar Donetsk right back Srna is an option

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona is interested Shakhtar Donetsk player and Croatian international Darijo Srna (27).

Barcelona is looking to strengthen the right back and the left back position in the summer and Srna would be one of the options.

The Croatian right back, who could also play on the left and in midfield, would have been promised by Shakhtar's president that he can leaves if an offer from an important club comes in.

Read more:
Zaragoza and Shakhtar interested in Bojan
Secret talks with Rakitic
Shakhtar defender Chygrynskiy being monitored



Watch a video of Srna here: