Juventus hopes Barcelona will sign Poulsen

Italian sports paper Tuttosport claims that Juventus still hopes that Barcelona will end up signing Juventus midfielder and Danish international Christian Poulsen (29) later this month if other options would fail.

The Italian club wants to be released of the 3 million euro a year contract of Poulsen and now hopes that Barcelona, that will have to deal with the absences of Touré and Keita during the Africa Cup next year, or Liverpool, that might need to replace Xabi Alonso, will try to transfer Poulsen in the coming weeks.

Read more:
No concrete talks with Poulsen
Looking forward to the last transfer window month
Total deal on Caceres loan to Juventus

Caceres set for Juventus medical tests

Italian sports papers Il Corriere dello Sport and Tuttosport claim that Barcelona central defender and Uruguayan international Martín Cáceres (22) will undergo today the medical tests at Juventus prior to his transfer on loan.

The player would have arrived in Italy yesterday, where he and his agent Daniel Fonseca had a dinner with Juventus sports director Alessio Secco. The Uruguayan centre-back is quoted by Tuttosport as saying that he's excited about the move: "I want all this to be closed soon, I can't wait to be a Juventus player. I'm living a dream. I'll take Barcelona's winning spirit with me to Juventus."

Read more:
Total deal on Caceres loan to Juventus

Total deal on Caceres loan to Juventus

All Italian and Spanish media claim that all parties involved have found a deal on the transfer of Barcelona central defender and Uruguayan international Martín Cáceres (22) to Juventus.

Although some media report that Cáceres will join Juventus on a permant transfer, most media claim that it will be a one-year loan, with a buy option of (10 or) 12 million euro. Juventus player Poulsen would in the end not be part of the deal (read more here).

Italian sports paper Tuttosport claims that Cáceres will be in Turin tomorrow to undergo the medical tests. Catalan radio station RAC 1 claims that the Uruguayan centre-back and his agent Daniel Fonseca travelled already to Italy today to finalize the deal.

Read more:
This week decision on Caceres loan to Juventus
Meeting Caceres-Poulsen swap coming up

Meeting Caceres-Poulsen swap coming up

Italian sports paper Tuttosport claims that Barcelona and Juventus officials will meet later this week to discuss the transfers of Barcelona central defender and Uruguayan international Martín Cáceres (22) and Juventus midfielder and Danish international Christian Poulsen (29).

Juventus sports director Alessio Secco will probably first meet later today in Italy (somewhere between Milan and Turin) with Daniel Fonseca, the agent of Cáceres, trying to find already a personal agreement with the player, who would be earning 2 million euro at Barcelona and doesn't want to take a pay cut.

The Italian club would only be able to afford signing Cáceres if Juventus player Poulsen, who has a 3 million euro a year salary, would leave this summer. Despite the interest of several English clubs, the Danish midfielder would like to join Barcelona and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain is quoted by the paper as confirming that Barcelona is interested in the player: "The Dane is one of the candidates to strengthen our midfield."

Read more:
Agent Poulsen confirms Barcelona contact
Juventus President: Caceres depends on Poulsen
Loan move to Juventus only option for Caceres

Caceres looking forward to Juventus move

Asked about the rumours linking him with a loan move to Juventus (read more here), Barcelona central defender and Uruguayan international Martín Cáceres (22) has said in an interview with Italian sports paper Tuttosport that he's looking forward to join the Italian club:

"For me, it's a great honour to be in the plans of such a prestigious club like Juventus. That's why I hope the negotiations between Juventus and Barcelona will be succesful. I'm very motivated to start this new adventure.

My agent has explained me everything about Juventus, about their winning spirit and their attitude of never giving up. And I am also like that, I'm a guy that only wants to win. He also told about Juve coach Ferrara, how he was as a player, both on and off the pitch. I had so many questions, so many things I wanted to learn more about. I repeat: it's an enormous honour to be followed by Juventus, I'm looking forward to a good end to all of this."

Read more:
Agent: Caceres waiting to make decision
Guardiola about current Barca players
Deal between Juventus and Caceres almost done

Juventus wants Caceres-Poulsen swap

Italian sports paper Tuttosport claims that Juventus wants to swap Juventus midfielder and Danish international Christian Poulsen (29) for Barcelona central defender and Uruguayan international Martín Cáceres (22).

Juventus manager Ciro Ferrara would like to add another central defender to his squad, while a transfer of Poulsen would open the way for another transfer, given the Dane's high wage.

Both players would be valued at 7 million euro°, which could result in a straight swap with no money included.

Read more:
Cáceres to Juventus in 10 days
Barcelona moving for Poulsen
Juventus and Roma interested in Caceres

Inter hoping to sign Hleb this summer

Italian sports paper Tuttosport claims that Inter is interested in Barcelona attacker and Belarusian international Alexander Hleb (28) (read more here).

With a transfer of Deco being difficult, the Italian champions would now like to transfer Hleb and would therefore not have driven up the transfer fee for left back Maxwell, whose transfer to Barcelona was yesterday officially announced, hoping that good relationships between the two clubs can help them to sign the Belarusian later this summer.

Read more:
Guardiola decides that Hleb will stay
Four English clubs interested in Hleb
Inter Milan interested in Hleb

Deportivo will sell left back Filipe this summer

Galician newspaper El Ideal Gallego claims that Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luís (23) will be sold by his club this summer.

Deportivo president Augusto César Lendoiro would have informed Deportivo manager Miguel Angel Lotina about the plans of the club.

Barcelona would until now be the only club who has contacted Deportivo. But while Barcelona has made a 5 million euro° bid, Deportivo would be asking a transfer fee of 10 million euro° plus the loan of one player. Deportivo's wish list would include five names: Barcelona players Bojan (18), Pedro (21) and Víctor Sánchez (21), and Barcelona Atlètic players Thiago (18) and Jeffren (21).

Italian sports paper Tuttosport claims that Juventus is also interested in Filipe. Juventus sports director Alessio Secco would be following the Brazilian for several weeks now. Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Barcelona could be moving and accept that they will have to pay 10-12 million euro° for Filipe, who has a buyout clause of 20 million euro°.

Asked about the exit rumours, the player’s agent José Carlos Lages said in an interview with As that a transfer seems likely: "Filipe Luis knows that Depor needs money because they have to make several payments and he would accept to leave for a big club. If it's good for the club, it will be good for him too.

I've talked with commercial director Pablo Pereiro and he told me there's nothing concrete yet. So teams should now talk with Depor first. I get calls by representatives, agents and intermediaries asking for his demands, but they should negotiate with who has the transfer rights until 2013.

Filipe is now on holiday in Brazil. I told him that's the best thing he can do now. He's delighted with the interest of important teams like Barça or Juve, because that means he's doing very well. He has a contract with Depor, he's feeling very good here and who wants him should contact Depor. If he leaves, he'll go to a big club that is competing for the big trophies."

Read more:
First offer for Deportivo left back Filipe
Liverpool and Juventus interested in Abidal
Deportivo interested in several Barcelona players

Montolivo dismisses Barcelona rumours

Italian sports paper Tuttosport claims that Barcelona is strongly interested in Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo (24).

Barcelona would already have contacted Fiorentina to ask for the Italian player.

Asked about the rumours, Montolivo said at a press conference that a transfer seems very unlikely to him: "I want to stay at Fiorentina. I want to keep on playing with this shirt. I've heard the talk about Barcelona but I saw them play in the final of the Champions league and it didn't look as if they need another midfielder... They have the strongest midfield in Europe."

Read more:
Fiorentina goalkeeper Frey has been offered
Offer for Fiorentina midfielder Felipe Melo


Watch a video of Montolivo here:

Milan wants Puyol to replace Maldini

Italian sports paper Tuttosport claims that AC Milan is interested in Barcelona central defender and Spanish international Carles Puyol (31) (read more here).

AC Milan sports director Ariedo Braida would have put him on the target list after Puyol has been scouted. Puyol, whose contract with Barcelona expires in the summer of 2010, should replace AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini, who retires at the end of this season, and become the new leader of the Italian club's defense.

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that Puyol wants to retire at Barcelona but could also be tempted by an offer from Milan. Barcelona has already sounded out Puyol and would be ready to offer the Catalan defender a contract extension until 2013. Puyol, who would now be earning a maximum of 6 million euro, would nevertheless not be given a pay rise.

Asked about the renewal of his contract, Puyol said in an interview with Catalan radio station Ona FM that he's calm about the issue: "I'm very little worried about it, I'm totally relaxed. My contract end sin 2010, so there’s more than one year left and I think that's a lot of time. Everybody knows what I would like. I want to stay here at Barcelona and there's still enough time left to make this happen."

Read more:
Puyol wants to retire at Barcelona
Several clubs preparing bid for Barcelona players
Puyol: "Tattoos are one of my passions"

Trezeguet could join Barcelona in the summer

Italian sports paper Tuttosport claims that Juventus forward David Trezeguet (31) could join Barcelona in the summer.

Because of a bad relationship with Juventus manager Claudio Ranieri and the strong competition, Trezeguet will be sold at the end of the season. Besides Barcelona, Olympique Lyon is said to be a possible destination.

Read more:
Agent Trezeguet hints at Barcelona move
Possible package offer for Buffon and Trezeguet
Guardiola called Trezeguet this summer

Messi is dream for Juventus

Asked about which players he would like to see in a Juventus shirt, Juventus co-owner Andrea Agnelli has said in an interview with Turin sports taboid Tuttosport that Barcelona right wing attacker and Argentinian international Lionel Messi (21) is his dream transfer:

"There are so many players I would like to applaud... But I won't give you any names. Although I will make an exception for what would be an absolute dream: Lionel Messi."

Tuttosport claims that Barcelona has a tradition of selling its star players and that a transfer of Messi to Juventus in the next two years is not impossible. The Argentinian attacker could be available in six or eighteen months time for a transfer fee between 70 and 80 million euro.

The paper suggests that Juventus could reconsider selling their goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, for whom Manchester City would have offered 100 million euro° a while ago, in order to collect the financial means needed to buy Messi

Read more:
Messi's father leaves Italy door open
Inter president wants Messi at any price
Messi and Eto'o on Manchester City wish list

Bojan fourth in Golden Boy trophy

Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic has finished fourth in the Golden Boy election, the award that designates the best under-21 football player in Europe, voted by sportswriters and organized by Italian sports paper Tuttosport.

Barcelona player Lionel Messi won the trophy in 2005, former Barcelona player Cesc Fàbregas won it in 2006. Last year, Atlético Madrid forward Sergio Aqüero was elected.



Full results

1. Anderson (Manchester United, Bra, 20) --- 129
2. Theo Walcott (Arsenal, Eng, 19) --- 126
3. Sergio Aguero (Atlético Madrid, Arg, 20) --- 109
4. Bojan (Barcelona, Spa, 18) --- 101
5. Pato (AC Milan, Bra, 19) --- 68
6. Mario Balotelli (Inter Milan, Ita, 18) --- 54
7. Sergio Busquets (Barcelona, Spa, 20) --- 27
8. Ivan Rakitic (Schalke 04, Cro, 20) --- 21
9. Diego Capel (Sevilla, Spa, 20) --- 20
10. Miralem Sulejmani (Ajax, Ser, 20) --- 18

11. Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal, Dan, 20) --- 15
12. Angel Di María (Benfica, Arg, 20) --- 14
13. Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich, Ger, 20) --- 14
14. Juan Mata (Valencia, Spa, 20) --- 10
15. Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina, Mon, 19) --- 7
16. Alexis Sánchez (Udinese, Chi, 19) --- 7
17. Nikola Kalinic (Hajduk Split, Cro, 20) --- 5
18. Simão (Panathinaikos, Moz, 20) --- 5
19. Mesut Özil (Werder Bremen, Ger, 20) --- 4
20. Gareth Bale (Tottenham, Eng, 19) --- 3

Busquets rejects renewal offer

Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that Barcelona defensive midfielder and Spanish youth international Sergio Busquets (20), whose contract expires at the end of this season, has rejected a recent renewal offer by Barcelona.

Barcelona would have proposed the player a salary of 500 000 euro plus incentives. The player would receive another 500 000 euro if he plays 60 per cent of the matches and if Barcelona qualifies for the Champions League and an third sum if the team would win one or two trophies.

This offer would have been rejected by Josep Maria Orobitg, the agent of Busquets, who nevertheless will hold new talks with Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain in the coming days trying to reach an agreement.

Catalan sports paper Sport, who thinks that Busquets could earn around 1 million euro, claims that a meeting on Monday was cancelled because of the death of the father of Barcelona goalkeeping coach Unzué (read more here) but that the parties will meet in the coming days. Although the talks are just starting, the club and the player want to find a deal as soon as possible.

Asked about his renewal negotiations, Busquets is quoted by the paper as saying that he's confident about staying: "There's no problem and I'm sure that I will renew my Barcelona contract and that we will find a deal. My agent, Orobitg, is dealing with this issue, while I'm focusing on playing football and enjoying the game. At this moment I'm relaxed about how things are going and all I want right now is to keep on getting playing minutes and the more, the better."

Asked about the renewal negotiations of Busquets and Xavi, Barcelona president Joan Laporta said earlier this week to journalists that he also believes in a good outcome: "The talks are mainly a matter that is een dealt with by Txiki, but I think the negotiations need some time before we concretely reconcile the interests of both parties.

The two players will renew but everybody should be happy with the deal. Xavi and Busquets are both players of the present and future. It's very clear to them that Barcelona is their priority and that's why I am convinced that they will be with us for many more years."

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that AC Milan, Inter Milan, Arsenal, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid would already have contacted Busquets. Turin sports tabloid Tuttosport claims that Juventus is also interested.

Read more:
Busquets agent optimistic about renewal

Milan offers Busquets twice as much as Barcelona

Busquets not listening to offers by other clubs

Arsenal, Liverpool and Juventus monitor Xavi talks

British tabloid The Daily Mail claims that English Premier League clubs Arsenal and Liverpool could be interested in Barcelona attacking midfielder and Spanish international Xavi (28) in case the renewal negotiations with the player, whose contract expires in 2010, would fail.

Xavi would have had seven meetings with Barcelona officials about a new deal but no offer has yet been made. The Catalan midfielder, who is paid less than players like Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and Carles Puyol, is looking for a significant improvement with any new contract.

A source close to Xavi is quoted as saying that Barcelona doesn't seem willing to pay him enough: "Barcelona seem to think that because he is Catalan he would never leave the club. This is a dangerous and arrogant attitude. He is one of the best midfielders in the world but Barcelona do not seem to realise his value."

Turin sports tabloid Tuttosport claims that Juventus is also still interested in Xavi and will try to sign the player if Barcelona would decide to let him go. The transfer fee would be at least 25-30 million euro° although article 17 of the FIFA transfer regulations could be used to lower that fee.

Read more:
Juventus interested in Xavi for next season
Barcelona makes official statement on Xavi
Xavi renewal talks advancing slowly

Bojan and Busquets nominated for Golden Boy

Turin sports tabloid Tuttosport has drawn up a shortlist of 40 candidates to win the Golden Boy trophy for players born in 1988 or later.

Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets (20) and Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic (18) are included in the list. The winner will be announced in December.

Barcelona player Lionel Messi won the trophy in 2005, former Barcelona player Cesc Fàbregas won it in 2006. Last year, Atlético Madrid forward Sergio Aqüero was elected.

The 2008 shortlist:

Adu (Usa)
Agüero (Arg)
Anderson (Bra)
Balotelli (Ita)
Bale (Wal)
Banega (Arg)
Bendtner (Den)
Boateng (Ger)
Breno (Bra)
Busquets (Spa)

Capel (Spa)
Derdiyok (Swi)
Di Maria (Arg)
Di Santo (Arg)
Giovani (Mex)
Jovetic (Mon)
Kaboré (BFa)
Kalinic (Cro)
Kroos (Ger)
Krkic (Spa)

Marcelo (Bra)
Mata (Spa)
Michedlidze (Geo)
Okaka (Ita)
Özil (Ger)
Papastathopoulos (Gre)
Pato (Bra)
Piatti (Arg)
Pjanic (Bos)
Rakitic (Cro)

Ramsey (Wal)
Renato Augusto (Bra)
Richards (Eng)
Sarpong (Net)
Sánchez (Chi)
Sidnei (Bra)
Simão (Moz)
Sulejmani (Ser)
Vela (Mex)
Walcott (Eng)

Arsenal preparing new bid for Toure

British tabloid News of The World claims that Barcelona defensive midfielder and Ivory Coast international Yaya Touré (25) looks like joining English Premier League club Arsenal in January (read more here).

Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger would have held talks with Barcelona in the summer and agreed on an 10 million euro° transfer fee. But the clubs were then unable to convince Touré as the English club would not match his Barcelona salary.

The Arsenal board has now agreed to raise the offer of personal terms and a source close the deal is quoted as saying that a winter move is very possible: "It’s now likely that he and the Gunners can resolve the issue."

Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that Juventus is preparing a 9,5 million euro° bid for Touré (read more here). Turin sports tabloid Tuttosport claims that Manchester City has also joined the race for the Ivorian midfielder.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona would be willing to take a bid for Touré into consideration if the offered transfer price is high enough.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola talked with Touré last week after the player stayed away from training with an unclear injury (read more here). Guardiola made clear that the player was an important part of the squad and that he wouldn't accept a January transfer.

Read more:
Toure denies exit rumours
Barcelona monitoring Cesc situation
Wenger called Touré this summer

Toure wants to join Juventus in January

Turin sports tabloid Tuttosport claims that Barcelona defensive midfielder and Ivory Coast international Yaya Touré (25) wants to join Italian club Juventus this winter.

The Ivorian is quoted as telling his friends that he wants to leave Barcelona as soon as possible: "I want to go to Juventus. And I want to go there immediately, in January. It's a huge opportunity for me, although I would miss the Champions League a lot. It's a chance that I won't let go bye for any reason in the world."

The agent of the player would have been contacted a couple of weeks ago by Juventus officials, who have offered the player a salary of 3,8 million euro, which would be the double of his current earnings (read more here). The answer of the player and the agent was positive but both want to wait another month, maximum one month and a half, to see how things go at Barcelona.

Read more:
Touré considers transfer if he doesn't play more
Barcelona puts price tag on Toure
Arsenal could launch Toure bid in January

Barcelona puts price tag on Toure

Turin sports paper Tuttosport claims that Barcelona has put a price tag on Barcelona defensive midfielder and Ivory Coast international Yaya Touré (25), who should cost at least 10 million euro°.

Touré wants to leave and Barcelona could now have accepted to let the player go in the January transfer window. Juventus would be planning to make a bid, while Inter Milan, Olympique Lyon and an English Premier League club are also interested.

Asked about the rumours linking him with a winter move to Juventus (read more here), Touré has said to journalists that he cannot comment on the issue now.

Read more:
Touré considers transfer if he doesn't play more
Arsenal could launch Toure bid in January
Juventus offers Touré five-year contract

Juventus offers Touré five-year contract

Italian sports paper Tuttosport claims that Barcelona defensive midfielder and Ivory Coast international Yaya Touré (25) is on top of Juventus' wish list.

Juventus sports director Alessio Secco has been following the Ivorian midfielder for three years and the Italian club now plans to launch a bid for Touré in January.

Juventus would already have contacted Touré's agent to offer the player a five-year contract worth 3,8 million euro a year. Touré hasn't yet given a final answer but would be open to the possibility of moving to Italy. The player has asked for one more month in order to see how his situation in Barcelona will evolve.

read more:
Arsenal could launch Toure bid in January
Barça B - Official: Iago to Juventus
Wenger called Touré this summer