Aquilani is touchable

During their stay in Nyon for the Champions League draw, Barcelona officials have met with AS Roma counterparts and would have asked them about the renewal negotiations with Roma midfielders Daniele De Rossi (24) and Alberto Aquilani (23). Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Roma sports director Daniele Pradè and Roma team manager Tonino Tempestili made very clear that Italian international De Rossi is untouchable, but they didn't closed the door to talks on Aquilani. The contract of Aquilani expires next year and the player preferes to leave for a bigger club and get better financial conditions.

The board vote goes to Mourinho

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo says the support for former Chelsea manager José Mourinho (45) in the Barcelona board is growing. There would now be a clear majority of board members who are in favour of Mourinho taking charge of the team as of next season. The general feeling is that the Rijkaard era has finished. Barcelona president Joan Laporta, who will have the last word, is still standing by his manager but starts to realize it will be very hard to terminate his mandate as president together with the Dutchman.

Mourinho seems willing to wait for Barcelona to take a decision. Earlier this week, Mourinho even sent out his adviser Eladio Parames to deny in the British newspaper The Independent the rumour that he aleady had spoken with Inter president Massimo Moratti. Because it seems Inter Milan is pushing very hard for the Portuguese, Barcelona would now have contacted Mourinho's agent Jorge Mendes asking him to give some more time to Barcelona.

(read more on the manager debate here)

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 (5) : Attack

On Thursday 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.

Up front Barcelona is looking for a winger and a scorer. Last november Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona sports vice president Marc Ingla met in Lisbon with the agent of Manchester United right winger Cristiano Ronaldo (23). No chance. Bayern Munich right winger Franck Ribéry (24) has been sounded. Sevilla left winger Diego Capel (20) and AS Roma left winger Mancini (27) are also on the Barcelona list. With Mancini there would be a pre-agreement.

For the center forward position, the transfer price of the first choice, Olympique Lyon striker Karim Benzema (20), is unattainable, so the club has to look at other options. Sevilla forward Luis Fabiano (27) is an alternative who would cost far less, although the problem is that the rights of the player are divided between Sevilla and investment group GSI. Chelsea striker Didier Drogba (30) will only come if his former manager José Mourinho will become the next Barcelona manager.

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

Eboué to replace Zambrotta

Catalan television channel TV3 claims that Barcelona is interested in Arsenal right back Emmanuel Eboué (24). The Ivorian international would be a strong candidate to replace current Barcelona right back Gianluca Zambrotta (31), who will most probably return to Italy at the end of the season.

Barcelona would have elaborated several reports about the player, following him in the English Premier League and during the recent edition of the Africa Cup in Ghana last month. Since Barcelona is looking for a right back with attacking qualities, Eboué is seen as a serious option. Married to a Belgian, the Ivorian has also the Belgian nationality, which means he wouldn't occupy one of the four non-EU citizens spots.