Xabi Alonso transfer in January unlikely

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that, although the player would be delighted to join Barcelona, Liverpool midfielder and Spanish international Xabi Alonso (26) most probably won't come to Barcelona in January.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez would be holding on to Xabi Alonso, while Barcelona manager Josep Barcelona doesn't plan to let go Yaya Touré, whom Xabi should replace (read more here).

At this moment, there wouldn't be any deal agreed upon between Barcelona and Alonso or between the two clubs.

British tabloid The Sun claims that Barcelona would be preparing a 15 million euro° offer for Xabi Alonso in case Touré would leave in January.

Asked about the rumours linking him with a winter move to Barcelona, Xabi didn't want to enter the issue when speaking to journalists earlier this week: "I am content at Liverpool and I have still not decided on a concrete date for my return to the Liga."

Read more:

Xabi Alonso main candidate to replace Toure

Xabi Alonso other candidate to replace Deco

Touré considers transfer if he doesn't play more

Xabi Alonso main candidate to replace Toure

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona is interested in Liverpool midfielder and Spanish interenational Xabi Alonso (26).

Alonso would be the first choice to replace Barcelona defensive midfielder and Ivory Coast Yaya Touré (25) if the Ivorian would decide to leave this winter.

Guardiola likes Alonso and the Basque player would want to join Barcelona, the club his father played for in the 1980s. Barcelona has been following Alonso for a while and in the past there have already been concrete contacts without a transfer being possible back then (read more here).

Barcelona doesn't plan to let Touré go but the player will have the last word. If Touré, whose contract expires in 2011 would ask to leave, the club doesn't want to keep him against his will.

Touré would be losing serious amounts of money because both his Barcelona salary and his Nike contract depend highly on incentives based on the games he plays. Juventus and Arsenal would already have offered Touré a contract (read more here).

Asked about the latest transfer rumours, Touré told British sports site Sky Sports that he is flattered by it, but that he is prepared to wait for his opportunity with Barcelona before contemplating an exit: "It is good to know there are big clubs interested in me. It is known that I have not played a lot for Barcelona so far this season. The coach rotates the midfield, and I am waiting for my chance.

There are still plenty of games to play. The club is doing well, so we shall wait and see. I don't know about moving to another club. You never know. I will take my chance at Barca when handed it. I love Barcelona. It is the biggest club, but there are others as well."

Read more:
Xabi Alonso other candidate to replace Deco
Barcelona wants to clarify Toure situation
Touré considers transfer if he doesn't play more

Xabi Alonso other candidate to replace Deco

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Liverpool midfielder and Spanish international Xabi Alonso (26) is one of the candidates to replace Barcelona midfielder Deco (30), who will leave Barcelona in the summer (read more here).

Alonso has lost his key role in the Liverpool team this season and would therefore be ready to listen to offers during the coming transfer window. Over the last years Xabi's name has been linked several times with Barcelona, the club for which his father Periko Alonso played between 1982 and 1985.

Read more:

Xabi is Barcelona target

How things stand: Defensive midfielder

Xabi plans to stay

How things stand: Defensive midfielder

(at the end of the season, Barça Transfer Zone looks forward to the coming transfer summer making an analysis for each position, in part 5 we look at the defensive midfielder)

2007-2008

He was the least known of the four transfers last summer, but Ivorian defensive midfielder Yaya Touré (24) established himself from the start as a key player in the team. If he was not fit or during the Africa Cup he was replaced by Rafael Márquez (29), Andrés Iniesta (23) or José Edmílson (31), who was injured during the first part of the season.

Out

The contract of Brazilian defensive midfielder Edmílson, who arrived in 2004 from Olympique Lyon, expires in June and will not be renewed. In the last months the player has been linked with clubs like Betis, Besiktas and Villareal. Mexican central defender and defensive midfielder Márquez could also leave (read more here).

In

Barcelona had planned to bring in a solid back-up for Touré. But it is now to be seen what the effect of the appointment of Josep Guardiola as the new Barcelona manager will be on how this position will be filled in. If Guardiola wants to bring back the 'pivote', the playmaker before the defence that he has been during his career, it could well be that Xavi or Iniesta, who were formed at this position, could be pulled back.

Olympique Lyon midfielder and Barcelona loan out Marc Crosas (20), who was nicknamed "the new Guardiola" (both for the position he played as for the physical resemblance), has now probably more chance to come back, despite having said he would prefer to stay at least one more year at Lyon.

This could also cause Barcelona to look for another type of player. Barcelona has been linked with players like Christian Poulsen (Sevilla - 28), Seydou Keita (Sevilla - 28), Daniele De Rossi (Roma - 24), Stéphane Mbia (Rennes - 21) and David Albelda (Valencia - 30), but Guardiola could well prefer a player like Xabi Alonso (Liverpool - 26).

Read all How things stand contributions here in the coming weeks or read the contribution about:

Goal keeper - Right back defender - Central defenders - Left back defender - Defensive midfielder - Attacking midfielders - Wing attackers - Centre forward

Which players are on Guardiola's list?

Catalan sports paper Sport, who today claims that future Barcelona manager Guardiola is already planning next season's squad for over one month, made on Wednesday an overview of the players Guardiola wants to stay or leave. Before we throw that one in the trash can, here it goes:

should stay: Valdés, Zambrotta, Milito, Márquez, Puyol, Sylvinho, Abidal, Xavi, Iniesta, Deco, Messi, Bojan and Eto’o

can leave: Jorquera, Pinto, Thuram, Oleguer, Edmílson, Touré, Gudjohnsen, Ronaldinho, Henry, Giovani, Ezquerro

The same paper says today that Barcelona wants to listen to offers coming in for every player of the current squad, except for nine: Valdés, Milito, Puyol, Abidal, Touré, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Bojan.

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Guardiola has explicitly asked for Bayern Munich full back defender Philipp Lahm (24).

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Guardiola thinks that Arsenal forward Emmanuel Adebayor (24) could be a key player in his new project. Barcelona did not yet make any move for the Togolese player but, despite his comment that he wants to stay with Arsenal (read more here), Barcelona will do everything that is possible to bring Adebayor to Barcelona. Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o (27), who has a close relationship with Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, could be included in the deal (read more here).

And British tabloid The Sun claims that the manager change in Barcelona could lead to Barcelona trying to bring in Liverpool central midfielder Xabi Alonso (26), for whom Juventus is planning a 20 million euro° bid.

During the Barcelona presidential elections back in 2003, Guardiola was the candidate to become the new Barcelona sports director if Lluís Bassat would win the elections. Bassat ended second (behind Laporta) but El Mundo Deportivo digged up the list of players that Guardiola planned to transfer at that time (having chosen Ronald Koeman, then Ajax manager, as the new coach), which could be an indication of the kind of players he would like to bring in now:

Inter Milan central defender Iván Córdoba, Zaragoza central defender Roberto Ayala (then Valencia), Inter central and left back defender Cristian Chivu (then Ajax), Milan defensive midfielder Emerson (then Roma), Liverpool winger Harry Kewell (then Leeds United) and Atlético Madrid winger José Antonio Reyes (then Sevilla).

Read more:
Adebayor new name on centre forward list
Deal with Lahm
Ribery says 'non, merci'

Xabi plans to stay

After an incident caused by his decision not to fly with the team to Milan for the Champions League game against Inter because his partner was ready to give birth, whereupon Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez declined his offer to fly on the morning of the game, rumours about a possible summer exit of Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alsonso (26) reappeared (read more here). In an interview with British tabloid The Daily Mail, the player now states he doesn't have any plans to leave Liverpool anytime soon: "I have a contract until 2012 and I'm quite satisfied about my future."

Xabi nevertheless defended his decision to stay in England: "I will always accept the orders of my coach and I don't think that anyone can question my professionalism. But there are occasions in life when some things take priority over sport and that was definitely one of them." The Spanish international considers the incident as closed: "I know I was criticised but it's over. For me that is forgotten now. "

(read more on the Xabi Alonso transfer story here)

Xabi and Liverpool bury the hatchet

British tabloid The Daily Mirror claims that Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso (26) is not longer looking for a summer move. During a meeting at the end of last week, the player has made peace with Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez after an incident earlier that week when Xabi didn't want to travel with the squad to Milan because his partner was about to give birth to their first child (read more here).

After the incident earlier rumours (read more here) about Barcelona preparing a bid for the Spanish international reappeared (read more here). Xabi would now have decided to stay in Liverpool and is determined to prove his value to the team.

Xabi offer upcoming

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez has taken the decision to sell midfielder Xabi Alonso (26) in the summer after the two had a discussion earlier this week (read more here and here). Barcelona is preparing an offer to close a deal with Liverpool and bring the Spanish international back to Spain.

The search of Txiki (3) : Midfield

Yesterday Catalan sports paper Sport gave a global analysis of the Barcelona transfer activity for next summer. In five episodes we bring this story to you.

In midfield Barcelona is looking for a defensive midfielder and a more dynamic player and has therefore contacted several candidates. Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso (26), who will be sold by his club in the summer, has also an offer from Atlético Madrid, but the player prefers Barcelona. Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard (29) will only come if his former manager José Mourinho becomes the next Barcelona manager.

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas (20) is not a real option, although the fact that he could change his current agent in May for the agent of Thierry Henry, who has a good relationship with Barcelona, could be seen as a first move to make a future return possible. Sevilla midfielders Christain Poulsen (28) and Seydou Keita (28) are also on the Barcelona list, with the second having a transfer price disadvantage. If Barcelona midfielder Deco (30) leaves, Werder Bremen attacking midfielder Diego (23) could be the first option. Barcelona has already contacted the father and agent of the Brazilian international, who wants to leave Germany in the summer.

Although there are excellent reports about Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Luka Modric (22), the Croatian international played a bad game when Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain went to see him during Croatia-Holland in the beginning of February. Later this month he'll have a second chance in the game against Scotland. Begiristain already contacted with Dinamo Zagreb vice president Zdravko Mamic and with his brother Dinamo Zagreb sports director Zoran Mamic, the agent of the player. Zagreb would be asking 20 million euro.

(this is the third part of this story, the first part and the second part were published yesterday, the fourth part will be published later today, the last part on Saturday. The five episodes are: 1. Defence, 2. How it works, 3. Midfield, 4. Marital status, 5. Attack)

Daddy Xabi is Barcelona target

British tabloid The Sun says that the future of Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso (26) is very much in doubt after the player refused to fly with his team to Italy for tonight's Champions League game against Inter Milan. This could lead the club to sell Alonso in the summer. Barcelona is one of the teams said to be interested in the player (read more here).

Xabi Alonso did not fly to Milan yesterday because his partner Nagore Aranburu was about to give birth to their first child. The Spanish international still hoped to join the squad in Milan today but Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez decided the team couldn't wait for the player.

Alonso not for sale

Asked about the rumours linking midfielder Xabi Alonso (26) with a summer move to Barcelona (read more here), Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez told the press that the player, although not playing a lot lately, stays an important part of the squad and is not for sale.

Benítez revealed he talked with Alonso’s agent last week and that Liverpool made clear they don’t want the Spanish international to leave at the end of the season: “He has signed a new contract only recently. To us, he’s a key player for the future.”

Alonso waiting for the summer

British tabloid The Daily Mail claims that Barcelona is preparing a 17,3 million euro bid for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso (26) (read more here).

The Spanish international, who is losing the battle with Mascherano and Leiva for midfield places, would want to wait until the summer before deciding on his future. After an injury, Alonso has fallen out of favour with manager Rafael Benítez. In Barcelona he should replace Portuguese playmaker Deco (30), who could be leaving in the summer.

Alonso summer target

British tabloid The Daily Star claims that Barcelona will make a bid for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso (26) next summer. Also because of injuries, Alonso has less playing time this season and since Liverpool has similar players in the squad, they would be willing to let him go. Barcelona would prepare an offer of 13,2 million euro for the Spanish international.