Three candidates to become back-up for Eto'o

Spanish football news blog Futbolitis claims that Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola has presented Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain a list of three centre forwards.

The list would include the names of Bayern Munich forward and Italian international Luca Toni (32), Juventus forward David Trezeguet (31) and Athletic Bilbao forward and Spanish international Fernando Llorente (23).

If Barcelona forward Eto'o would stay next season, Guardiola would like the club to sign one of the the mentioned player as back-up for the Cameroonian. While the first two would cost around 10-15 million euro°, Llorente has a buyout clause of 30 million euro°.

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Athletic Bilbao striker Llorente is on the list
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Luca Toni unaware of Barcelona interest

Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona (read more here), Bayern Munich forward and Italian international Luca Toni (32) has told journalists that he doesn't know about it:

"I know Pep but I don't know anything about a possible transfer to Barcelona.

It's an honour to be linked with them because they are a very strong team, probably the strongest in the world, but I didn't hear anything from them. I nevertheless might leave Bayern this summer because four strikers is too much. I will talk with the club later."

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Luca Toni could be alternative for Ibrahimovic

Luca Toni could be alternative for Ibrahimovic

Italian sports paper La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Barcelona is interested in Bayern Munich forward and Italian international Luca Toni (32).

A few days ago, Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would have called Toni to inform him about Barcelona's interest. Guardiola and Toni have been team-mates at Bresia six years ago and still have an excellent relationship. Guardiola would have made the Italian an offer and Toni would be delighted to join Barcelona.

Toni could be an alternative for the signing of Inter forward Ibrahimovic, whose transfer fee and wage demands would make a transfer very difficult at this point (read more here). Since Bayern Munich has already signed Mario Gómez a few weeks ago, the German club could be willing to sell the Toni this summer.

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Failed bids for Bayern duo Toni and Ribery
Inter asks record transfer fee for Ibrahimovic
Lahm offers himself to Barcelona

Last summer's search for a striker

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that, after deciding that they wouldn't count on Samuel Eto'o for the next season, Barcelona started looking earlier this year for the best possible successor.

Barcelona's technical staff started with a list of 15 to 20 players, on which Barcelona had detailled reports. In a first shifting, several names were deleted from the list, among which Ajax forward Huntelaar (25), who didn't get the full support of Joahn Cruijff.

The first choice of Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain was Lyon forward Karim Benzema (20), who soon appeared not to be for sale despite Barcelona being willing to make a bid of 40 million euro°. Barcelona then started working on the transfers of Arsenal forward Adebayor (24) and Tottenham forward Berbatov (27).

Because of the unclear plans of Mourinho at Inter and the uncertainty surrounding Drogba leaving Chelsea or Cristiano Ronaldo joining Real Madrid, the market didn't move between May and July. Barcelona tried to force a deal by offering Eto'o in swap deals with Adebayor and with Inter forward Ibrahimovich (27), but no club was willing to accept Eto'o's salary demands.

Although other names - like Stuttgart forward Gómez (23) and Bayern forward Luca Toni (31) - were discussed, it was in the end decided that Eto'o would stay with the club and that no transfer would be made.

Read more:
Barcelona working on Benzema transfer
Berbatov alternative for Adebayor
Meeting with Inter president on Ibrahimovich

Failed bids for Bayern duo Toni and Ribery

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona officials has asked Bayern Munich representatives about the situation of Bayern Munich forward and Italian international Luca Toni (31) and Bayern Munich winger and French international Franck Ribéry (25).

Barcelona wanted to begin the talks by offering 18 million euro° for Toni and 25 million euro° for Ribéry. Bayern immediately made clear that it was impossible to start negotiations since both players, who signed last summer, are considered to be key figures in the German team.

Read more:

Bayern rejects offer for Ribery

Deco top target for Bayern

Case closed: Lahm