Giovani not thinking about leaving

Asked about the rumours linking him with a summer move to the English Premier League (read more here), Barcelona right winger Giovani Dos Santos (18) has told in an interview with Spanish news agency EFE that he cannot avoid these kind of rumours but that he has never thought about leaving Barcelona: "I just live in the present. I am here now and what I would like the most is to be here for many more years to come."

(read more on the Giovani transfer story here)

Barcelona president pushes Benitez option

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona president Joan Laporta has put forward the name of Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez (47) as the one who should become the next Barcelona manager if the results force current manager Frank Rijkaard (45) to leave at the end of the season.

Is it said it was a go-between and personal friend of Laporta who informed the Barcelona president about the fact that the Liverpool manager is, contrary to what is generally believed, not untouchable. Laporta would have given the go-between the permission to contact Benítez discretely through the manager's former agent Manuel García Quilón.

With Benítez, who was not on the initial list of the technical staff, Barcelona president Laporta wants to have a valid successor for Rijkaard that is not former Chelsea manager José Mourinho (45), who Laporta thinks could give problems cause of his character and the negative view of Barcelona legend Johan Cruijff and some media. Mourinho is nevertheless strongly supported by some members of the Barcelona board, including economic vice president Ferran Soriano and sports vice president Marc Ingla, and by an important part of the Barcelona fans.

Meanwhile British tabloid The Daily Mirror claims that Benítez, who has also attracted the interest of Spanish clubs Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and Valencia, is supported by Barcelona legend Johan Cruijff, who would have made a report to Barcelona president Laporta about the manager issue.

(read more on the manager debate here)

Fenerbahçe wants Ronaldinho

In an interview with Madrid tabloid Marca, Fenerbahçe left back defender and former Brazilian international Roberto Carlos claims that his current club is interested in the transfer of Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho (28). Fenerbahçe president Aziz Yildirim would be ready to make an offer of 90 million euro (°) for the Brazilian international.

Cesc fires his agent

Spanish blog El Soplón reports that Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas (20) has broken all ties with his agent Joseba Díaz, who brought the player from Barcelona to Arsenal. The decision would be inspired by the family of the player, and especially his mother, who didn't like the frequent media appearances of Díaz and who blocked a possible transfer to Real Madrid in the summer of 2006. Player's agent Mariano Aguilar is for the moments handling some issues for the player.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo thinks this new situation could affect the renewal negotiations between Cesc and Arsenal. The player didn't want to react to the news. Earlier this month Catalan sports paper Sport suggested the dismissal of Díaz could be a first move towards a future return of the Spanish international to Barcelona (read more here).

Meanwhile, asked about rumours linking him with different clubs, amongst others Barcelona, Cesc said in an interview with Madrid tabloid As: "I don't see a reason to leave Arsenal. It would be a mistake."

(read more on the Cesc transfer story here)

Barcelona confirms Lahm interest

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo reports that, although the intial deal was to bring in the player in 2009, the almost certain departure of Barcelona right back Gianluca Zambrotta (31) in the coming transfer period, would make Bayern Munich full back Philipp Lahm (24) sign already for Barcelona at the end of this season.

While Bayern is initially asking 15 million euro (°) for the player, the paper thinks the transfer price could drop to 9 million euro (°°), because the contract of the player expires in 2009, which obliges the club to sell this summer if they don't want to see the player leave for free, and because both clubs have good relations.

Meanwhile, Munich tabloid TZ claims that Barcelona has confirmed the interest in the German international.

A spokesperson of Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain is quoted as saying: "Yes, Lahm is on our wish list. We are following the player for years now, but at this moment we can and may not give more details on a possible transfer." The paper says Barcelona has already officially contacted Bayern over Lahm, who is expected to leave at the end of the season unless future Bayern Munich manager Jürgen Klinsmann can convince him to stay.

(read more on the Lahm transfer story here)