Decisive day for transfer of Mata

With a meeting between Juan Manuel Mata, the father and agent of Valencia left wing attacker and Spanish international Juan Mata (21), coming up later today, this Friday is expected to be a decisive day for a possible transfer of Mata to Barcelona (read more here).

Valencia regional newspaper Las Provincias claims that, if the player and the club won't be able to find an agreement on a contract renewal, Mata will ask the club for a transfer. All media agree that Barcelona will make a bid of 18 million euro° today and that Valencia president Llorente would have promised Juan Manuel Mata to let the Spanish attacker leave for that sum.

Spanish radio station Radio Marca claims that Valencia will accept to sell Mata. The club would still have to pay 15 per cent of the players' salaries from last season and would therefore be forced to sell one of their top player this summer. Barcelona is reported to be willing to make a bid of more than 20 million euro°.

Read more:
Mata offer to be presented tomorrow
Mascherano, Chygrynskiy, Mata: Two out of three

Barcelona moving again for Mata

Valencia regional sports paper Superdeporte claims that Barcelona is still trying to sign Valencia left wing attacker and Spanish international Juan Mata (21).

Barcelona would be looking for a left winger and Valencia vice-president Javier Gómez is reported to have last week received a phone call saying that Barcelona Barcelona plans to sign Mata, whose current contract expires in 2012, this summer. Barcelona would nevertheless not have made a formal bid yet.

Valencia is anyhow not willing to sell Mata - unless they get an offer they cannot refuse - and will repeat that message when meeting with the player's father and agent at the end of the week to discuss a contract renewal. Although both parties want to reach an agreement, the player's agent considers the club's last offer of 600 000 euro a year to be ridiculous.

Read more:
Barcelona still interested in Mata
Looking forward to the last transfer window month
Mata will use Barcelona offer to get pay rise


Watch a video of Mata here:

Valencia rejects offers for Mata

Spanish television channel La Sexta claims that Barcelona made Valencia a bid of 50 million euro° plus the loan of Barcelona players Bojan (18) and Cáceres (21).

But this bid reportedly wasn't only for Valencia forward and Spanish international David Villa (27), but also for Valencia left wing attacker and Spanish international Juan Manuel Mata (21). Valencia would have rejected the offer.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona has picked up the option of signing Mata for the left wing and could already have made a bid of 20 million euro° for the Spaniard.

Valencia regional sports paper Superdeporte claims that Barcelona has contacted both Valencia and the player's entourage but that Valncei made clear that Mata is not for sale. Valencia would meanwhile have reached yesterday a pre-agreement with the player's father and agent about a contract renewaL

Read more:
Barcelona keeping an eye on Mata
Barcelona planning six transfers
Guardiola wants Villa

Barcelona president makes new bid for Villa

Several media claim that, while last weekend Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain had been negotiating with Valencia vice-president Javier Gómez, Barcelona president Joan Laporta yesterday contacted Valencia president Manuel Llorente to make a new offer for Valencia forward and Spanish international David Villa (27).

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that, while Valencia is asking 45 million euro°, Barcelona made a bid of 40 million euro° plus the loan of one player who is not Barcelona player Bojan Krkic (18). Barcelona players Martín Cáceres (21), Alexander Hleb (28), Eidur Gudjohnsen (30) or Pedro (21) could be included in the deal. The paper claims that this would be the final bid of Barcelona.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona has offered 40 million euro° plus Cáceres, while Valencia would be asking a transfer price of 42 million euro° and still tries to include the loan of Bojan. Barcelona would offer Villa a year salary of 5,5 million euro net.

Valencia regional Superdeporte claims that Valencia isn't interested in Cáceres and that they want more cash or another player on loan. The key element could be the loan of Bojan. Valencia regional newspaper Las Provincias claims that Valencia plans to organize a bid race between all interested clubs, including English Premier League teams Chelsea and Manchester United.

Read more:
Negotiations with Valencia on Villa ongoing
Barcelona planning six transfers
Barcelona joins race for Villa

Mascherano open to offer from Barcelona

Asked about the rumours linking Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (24) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), the player's agent Walter Tamer has said in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 that the player would be happy to move:

"If a club like Barcelona wants to bring you into their ranks, after they have won everything and completed such a brilliant season, the player will of course say yes and will want to play there. It would be an honour for Javier that a club like Barcelona is watching him, and even more when they just had an incredible season. I think playing with Barcelona would be very easy for him. Sometimes we joke and say the only thing he should have to do is run around, steal the ball and give it to one of the stars in front of him.

I believe that a transfer would be possible. I have already spoken with Txiki Begiristain before, but we have not been in contact for a while now. If something comes up, we will talk with Liverpool to know what their position is about Javier leaving, and with Barcelona to find out how interested they exactly are. What if Xabi Alonso also leaves? Benitez sure would not want to see two midfielders go. It would be difficult, although Xabi's future does not depend on Mascherano and vice-versa. Two transfers is possible, but it will be easier for the one who's the first to leave."

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez has agreed to let Mascherano or Xabi Alonso go. Because of financial problems, Liverpool will have to sell first before they can sign new players this summer. An offer of 30 million euro° is thought to be enough to sign the Argentinian.

Mascherano would already have confirmed to Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola that he would like to join Barcelona. With Touré and Keita having to play the Africa cup in the beginning of next year, Guardiola would see Mascherano as the ideal addition the squad.

Valencia regional sports paper Superdeporte claims that Barcelona has been following Mascherano for several years and that the scouting reports are positive. Barcelona would already have been close to signing the player in 2007 when the investment company that owned the transfer rights of the player couldn't find an agreement with Liverpool on the transfer fee.

Read more:
Mascherano ideal candidate to strengthen midfield
Liverpool and Juventus interested in Abidal
Guardiola talks with Mascherano

Valencia interested in Bojan loan

Valencia regional sports paper Superdeporte claims that Valencia is interested in Barcelona forward and Spanish youth international Bojan Krkic (18).

Valencia would be aware that it will be difficult to hold on to forward David Villa if the club doesn’t qualify for next season’s Champions League and is therefore already looking for a substitute in case the Spanish international would leave in the summer. The club has at this moment two options: Bojan and Almería forward Alvaro Negredo.

Barcelona would be considering to let Bojan leave on loan next season with the final decision depending on what happens during the summer transfer window. Valencia could be interested in a loan deal but only it the deal would be for two seasons and if there would be willingness to include an option to buy the striker.

Read more:
Arsenal interested in Bojan
Bojan doesn’t consider loan exit
Barcelona confirms offers for Bojan

Barcelona still interested in Silva

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona is still interested in Valencia left winger and Spanish international David Silva (23).

Barcelona is closely following the financial situation of Valencia and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain is convinced that the club will have a better chance this summer to sign Silva or his team-mate Villa.

Begiristain is keeping close contact with the entourage of Silva, who would have said to people close to him that he regrets having decided to continue at Valencia and not having accepted Barcelona's offer last year. Silva would prefer to join Barcelona if he leaves Valencia and would last summer have rejected to start negotiations with Real Madrid.

Valencia regional sports paper Superdeporte claims that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain is monitoring the events at Valencia. Barcelona already tried to sign Silva last season and Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would still like the left winger a lot. The paper claims that Valencia president Vicente Soriano is ready to sell the player.

Read more:
A goalkeeper, a left back and a left winger
Villa renewal could lead to Silva exit
Asenjo, Zhirkov and Silva main transfer targets

Barça B: Valencia, Sevilla and Villareal want Jeffren

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Valencia and Villareal are interested in signing Barcelona Atlètic winger and Spanish youth international Jeffren Suárez (20).

The Valencia technical staff would like the Venezualan-born player a lot and it is suggested that this could play a role in a possible transfer of Valencia left winger David Silva to Barcelona.

Aragón regional sports paper Equipo claims that Jeffren is high on the wish list of second division team Zaragoza, that hopes to get the player on loan.

Barcelona Atlètic coach Luis Enrique would want Jeffren to stay with his team but Barcelona thinks it's a better option to let the player leave on loan to a Spanish first or second division club.

Valencia regional sports paper Super Deporte meanwhile claims that Primera División teams Sevilla and Getafe, second division teams Levante, Tenerife and Hércules and some English clubs are also following Jeffren, who has scored twice during the pre-season he's doing with th first team this summer.

Jeffren's brother would have done a trial with Villareal which was seen as an attempt to attract the winger. Jeffren, his father and his agency would nevertheless prefer to stay linked with Barcelona and leave on a loan deal.

A source from the player's entourage is quoted as saying that Jeffren is not planning to stay with Barcelona's second team this season: "The goal is to play in the Primera División, but if that's not possible we would consider the Spanish second division if there's a good project. He'll certainly not return to play with Barcelona Atlètic in the third division.

Now we're waiting to talk with Barcelona. After that we'll look at all the options that are on the table and make a decision. At this moment the door is open for offers to come in from interested clubs."

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that it will be Barcelona Atlètic coach Luis Enrique who will decide what will happen with Jeffren. Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola won't promote the player to the first team and Zaragoza has made a formal loan offer.

Read more:

Barça B: Celtic wants Jeffren on loan

Barça B: Pedro thinks promotion is difficult

Barça B: Promotion or exit for Jeffren