Stuttgart wants to keep Hleb longer

Speaking to journalists after Stuttgart's Champions league qualifier win against Timisoara, Stuttgart sports director Horst Heldt said that the club would want to keep Stuttgart attacker and Barcelona loan out Alexander Hleb (28) after the loan deal expires next summer:

"He's here for now, which is already a good thing. But of course we would want him to stay with us for a longer period."

Asked about the statements, Hleb said in an interview with German sports weekly Sport Bild that it could be an option for him: "I'm really happy when Horst Heldt says that he wants to have me with the club for a longer period. We will see what will happen."

watch Hleb scoring for Stuttgart here

Picture of the day: Txiki

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain during yesterday's socio's assembly.

First meeting on contract renewal Guardiola

Catalan radio station Ona FM claims that Barcelona held this morning a first meeting with the agent of Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola (38) to discuss a contract renewal.

Because the focus is now on the end of the transfer market, the meeting would just have been to hear about the positions of both parties (read more here).

Guardiola would want to have more influence in the transfer and in the youth academy. The coach also wants his contract to be renewed year by year and wants a more important role for Barcelona director of communication Manel Estiarte, a close friend of Guardiola.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo announced the meeting earlier today saying that both Guardiola and his agent Josep Maria Orobitg had already informal contacts with Barcelona board members to discuss the renewal of the coaches contract that expires next year.

Read more:
Guardiola will have 'new board' clause in contract
Guardiola calm about contract renewal

Srna agent confirms Barcelona contacts

Asked about the new rumours linking Shakhtar Donetsk right back defender and Croatian international Darijo Srna (27) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), the player's agent Damir Stimac confirmed in an interview with Croatian newspaper Jutarnji list that there have been contacts two months ago but said that a deal is now unlikely:

"Yes, Barcelona wants him, it is not a new story. Some talks took place at the beginning of June, but now there are only 12 days left before the end of this transfer window so I think that it's not very realistic to think that he will now move to Barcelona.

Too many things have to be agreed, like his wage, as he is big player and he should earn at least 4 or 5 million euros per season. But it's well-known that taxes in Ukraine are only 18 per cent, a lot lower than in Spain or England. But if a transfer happens, than my prediction is that he will rather move to an Eglish club than to Barcelona. We are talking about a club, which is right now selling a right-back and the coach is just in love with Srna's style of play."

Read more:
Shakhtar Donetsk right back Srna is an option
Eight names on right-back short list
No official bid for Shakhtar right back Srna

Espanyol interested in Henrique loan

Catalan radio station Ona FM claims that Espanyol Barcelona is interested in Barcelona central defender Henrique Adriano Buss (22).

Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would believe in the Brazilian centre-back but thinks he need more playing minutes in the Spanish first division.

Besides Zaragoza and Racing Santander, Espanyol would now also have asked for Henrique. The Catalan club is looking to replace Dani Jarque, who died of a heart failure earlier this summer. Although Newcastle centre-back Coloccini is the first option, Espanyol could turn to Henrique if that option wouldn't go through.

Read more:
Possible decision on future Henrique today
Barca Seeks New Homes For Unwanted Players
Henrique could return to Brazil