Marseille goalkeeper Mandanda on shortlist

French football weekly paper Foot Transferts claims that Barcelona is interested in Marseille goalkeeper and French international Steve Mandanda (24) (read more here).

A Barcelona scout would have recently watched Mandanda in action. The report was positive and Barcelona would already have informed the player's entourage about their interest. Barcelona executives are expected to contact the French club shortly to hear more about the contract situation of the goalkeeper.

Mandanda would be part of a five-name shortlist of possible substitutes of Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés that also includes Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon (31), Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez (27), Fiorentina goalkeeper Sébastien Frey (29) and Valladolid goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo (19).

Read more:
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Marseille goalkeeper Mandanda followed

Watch a video of Mandanda here:

Barcelona managing list of four goalkeepers

Spanish tabloid 20 minutos claims that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristian is preparing for in case Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (28) would leave the club at the end of the season and is managing a four-name list of possible substitutes.

The number one candidate would be Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19 - picture), with Villarreal goalkeeper Diego López (29), who would cost 20 million euro°, being the alternative option.

Juventus goalkeeper and Italian international Gianluigi Buffon (31) and Atlético Madrid B goalkeeper and Spanish youth international David de Gea (18) are also on the list, although the possible transfer fee of the first would be considered to be too high for a player of his age and the second seems more an option for the future.

Read more:
Scouting report recommends transfer Asenjo
Who could replace Valdes?
Barcelona speaking with Cech and Buffon
Atletico B goalkeeper De Gea sounded out

Possible package offer for Buffon and Trezeguet

Italian sports site Sportmediaset meanwhile claims that Juventus goalkeeper and Italian international Gianluigi Buffon (31) is the first name on Barcelona's target list in case the club wouldn't find a renewal agreement with Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (28) (read more here).

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain would already have been in contact with Silvano Martina, the agent of Buffon, to hear more about the situation of the goalkeeper (read more here).

Italian sports paper Il Corriere dello Sport claims that Barcelona would be waiting for the right moment to try to close a deal and could make a bid of 50 million euro°. The paper also claims that Barcelona could make Juventus a package offer for Buffon plus Juventus forward David Trezeguet (31), while the Italian club could ask to include Barcelona players like Samuel Eto'o (28), Yaya Touré (25) and Andrés Iniesta (24) in the deal.

Asked about the statement of Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli that Buffon could be for sale if a good offer comes in, Buffon's agent Martina said earlier this week in an interview with Italian radio staion Radio Kiss Kiss that the goalkeeper is not looking for an exit:

"Buffon won't leave Turin, unless a crazy offer comes in because every player is on the market. All I can say about what the papers are writing is just that there's no truth in that. Gigi has a contract until 2013 and feels at home here. He just renewed his contract for five more seasons last year, so there's nothing that indicates that he wants to leave. If we receive an offer we will nevertheless evaluate it and discuss it with the club."

Read more:
Barcelona speaking with Cech and Buffon
Agent Trezeguet hints at Barcelona move
Barcelona sounds out Juventus goalkeeper Buffon

Barcelona speaking with Cech and Buffon

Czech newspaper Právo claims that Barcelona is interested in Chelsea goalkeeper and Czech international Petr Cech (25) and Juventus goalkeeper and Italian international Gianluigi Buffon (31).

An anonymous Barcelona executive told the paper that the management of the club is seriously considering to buy a quality goalkeeper in the summer and that they are already talking with both goalkeepers.

Barcelona could make a first bid for Cech by the end of this month. The club would want to spend big with the offer probably going to be more than 50 million euro.

Barcelona marketing vice-president Jaume Ferrer is quoted as saying that the club is looking at the market: "Now we have other worries with the champions league return against Lyon. But of course, we have been discussing new signings, and it is no secret that the goalkeeper is not our strongest link at the moment."

Pavel Zika, the agent of Cech, confirmed to the paper that Barcelona is interested in the Czech goalkeeper but said that it's not likely a deal will be closed: "We know of the interest. But Petr is very happy at Chelsea and has one of the best contracts there. The fact that he's learning Spanish has nothing to do with Barcelona. Petr loves languages and he is good at them. He and his wife Martina are anticipating their second child, they are happy in London and Chelsea will hardly release him."

Read more:
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Valdes under close observation
Cech to counter Casillas

Barcelona sounds out Juventus goalkeeper Buffon

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Barcelona is interested in Juventus goalkeeper and Italian international Gianluigi Buffon (31).

Barcelona's technical staff would be unsatisfied with the performances of Víctor Valdés this season and the club would be looking to strenghten the goalkeeping position in the summer.

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain would like to sign a younger goalkeeper by following the advice of Barcelona goalkeeping coach Juan Carlos Unzué and former Barcelona assistant coach Eusebio who recommended Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19) and Atlético Madrid B goalkeeper and Spanish youth international David De Gea (18).

The board of the club would nevertheless be wanting to buy a more experienced goalkeeper. Buffon has therefore already been sounded out and the Italian goalkeeper would have welcomed the interest and would be glad to live a new football adventure before he retires.

In this scenario, Valdés could well leave the club this year, one year before the end of his contract. In that case, Barcelona would try to sign De Gea, who would then be given the time to grow in the shadow of Buffon in the coming years. Atlético Madrid would be aware of the interest of Barcelona in their young player and will try to counter it by promoting De Gea to the first team next season.

Read more:
Valdes unaware of the club's renewal plans
Transfer history: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)
Agent Asenjo confirms Barcelona contact


Watch a video of Buffon here:

Transfer history: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)

Juventus goalkeeper and Italian international Gianluigi Buffon (31) has said in an interview with Italian televison channel Sky that when he left Parma in 2001, he was close to joining Barcelona:

"I chose Juve because my agent, Silvano Martina, and my father advised me to do that. Back then, I had to choose between Roma, Barcelona and Juve.

At the start my friendship with Totti and Vito Scala [Roma physical coach] made me prefer Roma, where Capello had just arrived and he seemed to start an era of an invincible team. I remember that Silvano and my father went there to talk with president Sensi but Roma took a step back and in the end they preferred to sign Pellizzoli, whom they could get for a lower transfer fee but who was at that time one of the most promising goalkeepers.

With Barcelona we had serious negotiations but right when Silvano Martina was going to Spain to close the deal, Moggi [Juventus general director at the time] called him and the Agnelli family got involved. I had a great desire to win an Italian league and my father told me that Juve hadn't won the title for five years but that they would again win it in the next two years. In the end I followed his advice and it has been a good choice."

Read more:
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Transfer history: Denilson (Palmeiras)
Transfer history: Francescoli