Vidic agent denies Barcelona statements

Asked about the new rumours linking Manchester United central defender and Serbian international Nemanja Vidic (27) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), the player's adviser Paolo Fabbri is quoted by British tabloid The Daily Express as denying that he has said Vidic would like to join Barcelona stating that he has been misquoted:

"This is not true. I never said these things. Nemanja is happy in Manchester. If Barcelona do make an offer for him then it is up to United to make a decision. I am planning to come to England shortly, along with Vidic's agent Silvano Martina, but this is only for a routine chat with United officials."

British newspaper The Times meanwhile claims that Manchester United is preparing to offer Vidic a new contract. Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has recommended that the club offer him a pay rise and an extension to his contract, which expires in 2012.

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Barcelona will try again for Vidic

Barcelona planning new move for Cesc

British tabloid The Daily Express claims that Barcelona will make a new move for Arsenal midfielder and Spanish international Cesc Fàbregas (22) (read more here).

Sources in Spain are reported to claim that Barcelona will offer Arsenal a transfer fee of 29 million euro° plus some Barcelona players, and play on the fact the Catalan midfielder has always idolised Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola, knowing their only chance of landing the midfielder is if he asks to return to Barcelona.

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Intensified talks with Cesc could lead to bid
Txiki on Cesc, Mascherano and Chygrynskiy

Barcelona preparing bid for Chelsea left back Cole

British tabloid The Daily Express claims that Barcelona is interested in Chelsea left back defender and English international Ashley Cole (28).

Barcelona is said to be looking for a player who can replace Barcelona left back defenders Abidal and Sylvinho and would already have sounded out Chelsea on the English full back.

Although Chelsea isn't considering to let Cole leave this summer, Barcelona would be preparing to make a 22,5 million euro° bid when the season ends. Inter Milan and Manchester City, that would already have made the player a personal offer, are also mentioned as interested clubs.

Chelsea would meanwhile have started renewal talks with Cole, whose current contract expires in the summer of 2011, offering the player a new five-year deal and a salary at the same level as players like John Terry and Michael Ballack. Although Cole doesn't want to leave Chelsea right now and isn't keen on a move to Manchester City, a transfer to Barcelona and a reunion with his close friend Thierry Henry could tempt the player.

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Chelsea will try to sign Alves this summer

Celtic Glasgow is an option for Sylvinho

Asked about the rumours linking Barcelona left back defender Sylvino (35), whose contract expires at the end of this season, with a move to Celtic Glasgow (read more here), the player's agent Hans Lamberz has said in an interview with British tabloids The Daily Express and News of the World that the Scottish club is certainly an option:

"We have two firm options to play in Spanish football, but he wants to look outside of Spain. When you've played for Barcelona, it's very difficult to go elsewhere in the league, so he'd prefer a new culture, a new style of football.

Right now I've not had any direct contact with Celtic, but that could all change overnight and if it did it could change Sylvinho's opinion.They are the sort of club which would make him book a flight right away to travel to Scotland. They are a huge club who play in the Champions League and one that would satisfy his ambitions. Sylvinho may be older on paper but he's a fit man who can play for many more years."

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Sylvinho wants to play for two more years
Barcelona looking for left back in Dutch league
Sylvinho can negotiate with Celtic

Barcelona interested in signing Tevez

British tabloid The Daily Mail claims that Barcelona is interested in signing Manchester United forward and Argentine international Carlos Tévez (25) this summer (read more here).

Representatives of the player would already have held informal talks with Barcelona officials, with Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola wanting to strenghten his team while they are still at the top.

Tévez’ loan deal with Manchester United expires at the end of this season. The English Premier League club can buy the Argentine for a transfer fee of 36 million euro° but didn’t yet start contract talks. Barcelona would be closely monitoring the situation, while Chelsea could also be interested.

British tabloid The Daily Express meanwhile claims that Iranian businessman Kia Joorabchian, who is linked to investment fund Media Sports Investments (MSI) that owns the rights of Tévez, has been offering the player to several European top clubs, asking a transfer fee of 34 million euro°. Real Madrid and Juventus are said to be among the interested clubs. Manchester United would have a first option to buy Tévez for 23 million euro°.

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Barcelona interested in Man United striker Tevez


Watch this video of Tévez:

Chelsea will try to sign Alves this summer

British tabloid The Daily Express claims that Chelsea will try to sign Barcelona right back defender and Brazilian international Daniel Alves (25) in the summer (read more here).

Chelsea owner Abramovich would be set to spend this year in order to revolutionise the squad and, even though the Dutchman may not be there to coach them, he has therefore ordered Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink to draw him up a list of summer transfer targets.

Besides Alves, the target list would also include CSKA Moscow left winger Yuri Zhirkov, CSKA Moscow forward Wagner Love, Lyon forward Karim Benzema and Manchester City winger Robinho. That list would cost Chelsea more than 100 million euro if they manage to land them all but the club plans to fund the transfer by also having a mass summer clear-out.

Read more:
Alves dismisses Chelsea and Madrid rumours
An evaluation of last year's transfer summer
Chelsea and Manchester City sound out Alves

Henry denies exit rumours

Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to the English Premier League (read more here), Barcelona forward and French international Thierry Henry (31) has said in an interview with Catalan television channel TV3 that he's not thinking about an exit:

"I'm very happy here. I've already said it several times. I like the city, the food and the weather. I have a contract for two more years and I'm feeling good at the club. For me everyting is clear. I don't see myself returning to the English Premier League.

I could achieve great things in England, but I didn't won anything with Barcelona yet and I want to win everything. Every time I put on the Barcelona shirt I feel honoured. I still didn't win the Champions League, but I also want to win the Liga and the Spanish cup.

During the summer, Guardiola came to see me and he explained his project. Everything was clear for me then. It was the best way to show me that he wanted me to stay. Guardiola believed in me and by staying I could pay him back."

British tabloid The Daily Express meanwhile claims that Henry could quit Barcelona to join a Major League Soccer team in the United Stated (read more here).

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Henry wants transfer rumours to stop
Manchester City plans January bid for Henry
Chelsea manager wants Henry in January

Manchester City plans January bid for Henry

British tabloids The Daily Mail and The Daily Express claim that Manchester City manager Mark Hughes wants to sign Barcelona forward and French international Thierry Henry (31) during the next transfer period (read more here).

English Premier League club Manchester City is expected to launch a massive bid for Henry when the transfer window opens in January. Both Barcelona and the player could be interested in a move and Henry is keen to return to England. Hughes has asked to be kept informed of the developments.

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Will Henry leave in January?

Barcelona would consider offer for Henry

Manchester City will come after Henry in January

Barcelona still interested in Berbatov

British tabloid The Daily Express claims that Barcelona is still interested in signing Tottenham forward and Bulgarian international Dimitar Berbatov (27).

Barcelona thinks that the good relationship they built up with Tottenham during the negotiations that saw Giovani dos Santos move to the English Premier League earlier this summer will work to their advantage.

It is believed that Tottenham would be prepared to accept an offer of around 30 million euro° in order to sell Berbatov abroad, rather than accepting a Manchester United bid.

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Berbatov prefers Barcelona

Txiki on Eto'o, Benzema, Henry and other strikers

Looking for a left winger and a centre forward

Adebayor one of the candidates to replace Eto'o

Asked about the rumours linking Arsenal forward and Togo international Emmanuel Adebayor (24) with a summer move to Barcelona (read more here), Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain has confirmed in an interview with British television channel Sky Sports that the player is a candidate in case Eto'o would leave this summer:

"He is one of the biggest strikers in football. There are four or five strikers that could be at our club, and Adebayor is one of those. For us, first we have to sell a player, then we can get another one. Then we will try to get the best player that we can. We are waiting for Eto'o. If we receive a big offer for him then we can study that option."

Begiristain said that Barcelona didn't yet receive formal offers for Eto'o but that several clubs are interested in signing him: "Of course big clubs are interested. But this is not important. First he needs to have an agreement with a club. Samuel has to have an agreement, after this we will start negotiations. But first he has to be happy. If he moves, it'll be to a big club, of course. There are four or five clubs interested."

Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger is meanwhile quoted by British tabloid The Daily Express as saying that he has no doubts on the continuation of Adebayor: "Emmanuel is 100 per cent commited. He is looking sharp in training. Of course he will stay. I am not worried, not at all. In other positions, we are maybe one player short, but up front we don't need anybody else."

And later today Adebayor himself said to his club's official media that he intends to sign a new deal: "I can tell everyone that I will sign a contract. I have three years left on my contract and we're adding two or three years more, so I'm very happy being part of this family.

When I was holidaying there was a lot of speculation, a lot of people were talking on my behalf which is not me. I have never said I will leave the club. Now I can tell everyone that I will sign a contract. I’m feeling very good here and at the moment my heart is with Arsenal."

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Drogba, Adebayor or Berbatov
Ronaldinho's transfer fee reinvested in Adebayor

Arshavin putting pressure on Zenit

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Zenit Saint Petersburg forward and Russian international Andrei Arshavin (27) would not be wanting to play for Zenit anymore because the club isn't keeping the promise they made before that Arshavin could leave for 15 million euro°.

The paper says that the negotiations between Barcelona and Arshavin are well-advanced and that a deal with the player wouldn't be aproblem if Zenit accepts the 15 million euro° offer made by Barcelona.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Russian champions Zenit are asking 25 million euro° for Arshavin. Chelsea would have offered 22 million euro and Barcelona 15 million euro° but both bids were rejected (read more here).

Zenit thinks that Arshavin is a star player and is therefore worth a lot more than players like for example Seydou Keita (14 million euro) or Martín Cáceres (16,5 million euro). Barcelona would nevertheless not move from its original position and hopes that the wish of the player in the end will be decisive.

British tabloid The Daily Express claims that both Barcelona and Chelsea have offered 15 million euro° but that the player seems on his way to Chelsea. Arshavin would have told his club Zenit that he wants to quit and join Chelsea. Chelsea expects Arshavin to arrive this weekend in London for talks with his agent Pavel Andreev.

Chelsea owner and Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich is determined to sign at least one Russian player this summer and would have visited the Russian team hotel during Euro 2008 to hold talks with Arshavin trying to persuade him that his future lies in London.

Britsh tabloid The Daily Mail also claims that Chelsea has moved ahead of Barcelona in the race to sign Arshavin. The player will arrive in London today and an agreement could be found this weekend.

Arshavin’s family would be trying to talk him into a move to the Premier League with his mother Tatyana and wife Yulia both said to believe it would be easier for him and his two children to settle in England rather than Spain.

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Bid for Arshavin rejected
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Ezquerro close to joining Olympiacos

Henry contacts Chelsea

British tabloid The Daily Express claims that representatives of Barcelona forward and French international Thierry Henry (30), whose contract with Barcelona runs until 2011, have made a first contact with Chelsea. Barcelona admits that the transfer has been a mistake and is willing to let the player go if a good offer comes in.

Henry prefers to leave for a London club because this would give him the possibility to spend more time with his two-years old daughter Téa. Because his relationship with Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has cooled, a return to Arsenal seems unlikely. Henry would now like to team-up with his fellow compatriote Nicolas Anelka. Although Chelsea is somewhat concerned about the age of the Frenchman, Henry is seen as one of the main candidates to replace forward Didier Drogba if the latter would leave in the summer.

Read more:
Henry wants to return to England
Could Henry return to Arsenal?
Premier League clubs circling around Henry

Hleb agent confirms Barcelona interest

Nikolai Shpilevski, the agent of Arsenal midfielder Aleksandr Hleb (26), has confirmed that Barcelona is one of the clubs that have informed him about their interest in the Belarusian international. Shpilevski is quoted in British tabloids The Daily Mail and The Daily Express as saying: "I'm often approached about Hleb. Besides Inter Milan, also Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid are interesteed in him. But there are no offical offers."

Read more:
Hleb to strengthen Barcelona midfield
A look at the coming transfer summer
Hleb wants to stay