Barcelona is an option for Ajax forward Suarez

Asked about the rumours linking him with several European clubs among which Barcelona (read more here), Ajax forward and Uruayan international Luis Suárez (22) has said that he only wants to leave Ajax for a European top club this summer:

"AS Roma, that's an example of a club I wouldn't leave Ajax for at this moment. Villarreal in Spain, same story. If clubs like that make an offer this summer, I will surely stay. I want to do it like Huntelaar. He had set his mind on the absolute top after Ajax and he didn't accept any other offers. And now he's succeeding at the top. Another step forward in between wasn't necessary for Klaas.

The two Spanish top clubs are an option for me. I know the city of Barcelona well since my family-in-law is living there. My wife Sofia and I are going to visit them regulary, not every week though. I love it there. But will I join Barcelona one day? Or when? You just cannot know that.

I've intensely thought about it over the past weeks. We're one year before the World cup. Uruguay is competing for the qualification an I'm a fixed started in the national team. So I don't want to risk that spot for a club under the absolute top. At Ajax, I know what I have and what I still can win next season. Personally, I think I can be happy about this season. I feel good on the right wing. I prefer that position over being centre forward. Coming from the wing, you have more room for the one-on-one."

Read more:
Ajax striker Suarez closely monitored
Bojan monitored by half of Europe
Ajax forward Suarez dreaming about Barcelona


Watch a video of Suárez here:

Barcelona preparing bid for AZ striker El Hamdaoui

Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf claims, based on unconfirmed Spanish sources, that Barcelona is still interested in AZ Alkmaar forward Mounir El Hamdaoui (24) (read more here).

The interest could soon become concrete with Barcelona preparing a bid of 20 million euro° for the Dutch-Moroccan striker, who is at this moment the leading goal scorer in the Dutch league with 14 goals out of 14 games.

Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad claims that Barcelona scouts are closely following El Hamdaoui and that there were again Spanish scouts present on Saturday to watch the player in the game against Feyenoord. AZ would have accepted that they won't be able to keep the striker if a serious offer comes in during the January tansfer window.

Asked about the rumours linking him to Barcelona, El Hamdaoui seemed to suggest in an interview with Dutch television channel Eredivisie Live that there has been contact: "I heard about the interest of Barcelona, yes. Although I won't tell here how or when I heard it. We'll see what will happen."

In an interview with Dutch television channel NOS, the striker said that he's now focusing on finishing the year with his club: "I'm only thinking about AZ at this moment. We still have two games to play before the winter break. That's what I'm focusing on."

Read more:
Barcelona is following AZ striker Dembele
PSV's Afellay is on the list
Barcelona following Dutch topscorer El Hamdaoui

Deal between Ajax and Oleguer to follow soon

Asked about the negotiations with Barcelona centre and right back defender Oleguer Presas (28) (read more here), Ajax sports director Danny Blind said in an interview with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that Ajax hopes to close the transfer soon:

"A loan deal wasn't an option for Barcelona. We have a deal on the transfer fee with the club, that's step one. We haven't an agreement with the player yet but the prospects for a deal are good.

He is looking forward to play again and would like to do that with us. We have given Oleguer an indication of what he can earn with us. If you buy a player for that kind of fee, you don't sign him for one or two years. Today we pick up the negotiations and we hope he can join the group soon."

Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad claims that it won't be a major problem to find a deal because Oleguer wasn't one of the big earners at Barcelona.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Ajax is now negotiating with Oleguer's legal adviser Sergi Clavera and that the Catalan defender will fly to Amsterdam this evening or at the latest tomorrow morning.

Sport claims that former Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard has recommended the transfer of Oleguer to current Ajax manager Marco van Basten and Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Oleguer's former team-mates Feyenoord midfielder Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Ajax midfielder Gabri have done the same.

Read more:
OFFICIAL: Oleguer to Ajax
Fake agent links Huntelaar with Barcelona
Deal with Ajax on Oleguer close

Oleguer wants to leave for Ajax

Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad claims that Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam is negotiating the transfer of Barcelona centre and right back defender Oleguer Presas (28). Ajax general director Henri van der Aat and Ajax sports director Danny Blind travelled to Barcelona on Friday trying to finalize the deal.

Blind, who has given up the hope to bring Henrique to Amsterdam (read more here), confirmed the trip in an interview with football site Goal: "I was in Barcelona and now we have to see how things will turn out. Barcelona wants to keep Oleguer but the player wants to leave. He sure has no problems to play in the Dutch league."

New Ajax manager Marco Van Basten also confirmed the interest for Oleguer yesterday in an interview with Amsterdam local television channel AT5.

Barcelona board member Rafael Yuste admitted in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 that there were negotiations going on: "It's true that Ajax has shown interest and that the player knows about that. We have started the negotiations and they will go on next week. I think it would be a good thing, both for the player and the club, if we could reach an agreement."

Dutch football weekly paper Voetbal International claims that Barcelona is asking 5 million euro° for Oleguer, whose contract expires in 2010. Catalan sports paper Sport claims that the Barcelona technical staff wants to hold on to the Catalan defender but will respect the wish of the player if he wants to leave. Barcelona would settle for a price between 3 and 4 million euro°.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that the negotiations are advanced and that a deal could be closed in the coming days. The transfer price would be 3 million euro° plus another possible 2 million euro° variables.

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that the negotations already started in December. Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola has now given his approval and Ajax could officially announce the transfer on Monday or Tuesday.

Read more:
Talks with Ajax on Henrique and Oleguer
How things stand: Central defenders
Ajax wants Oleguer on loan

Ajax wants Oleguer on loan

Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad claims that Dutch top club Ajax Amsterdam is interested in signing Barcelona defender Oleguer Presas (28) on loan.

Ajax would want to bring in several players from European top clubs. Current Dutch national team coach and future Ajax manager Marco van Basten is said to use his contacts in Barcelona and Milan to attract players like Oleguer or Milan's Yoann Gourcuff. Oleguer would have to replace in centre defence Ajax defender John Heitinga, who will leave for Atlético Madrid in the summer.

(read more on the Oleguer transfer story here)