Ajax forward Suarez could be transfer target

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that Barcelona is still interested in Ajax forward and Uruguayan international Luis Suárez (22).

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain has reportedly several scouting reports on Suárez, who has been followed by Barcelona for a while now (read more here). If Barcelona wouldn't be able to sign one of the bigger names on the list of transfer targets, the Uruguayan could become an option.

Read more:
Barcelona is an option for Ajax forward Suarez
Ajax striker Suarez closely monitored
Barcelona looking for left back in Dutch league


Watch a video of Suárez here:

Milan wants Puyol to replace Maldini

Italian sports paper Tuttosport claims that AC Milan is interested in Barcelona central defender and Spanish international Carles Puyol (31) (read more here).

AC Milan sports director Ariedo Braida would have put him on the target list after Puyol has been scouted. Puyol, whose contract with Barcelona expires in the summer of 2010, should replace AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini, who retires at the end of this season, and become the new leader of the Italian club's defense.

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that Puyol wants to retire at Barcelona but could also be tempted by an offer from Milan. Barcelona has already sounded out Puyol and would be ready to offer the Catalan defender a contract extension until 2013. Puyol, who would now be earning a maximum of 6 million euro, would nevertheless not be given a pay rise.

Asked about the renewal of his contract, Puyol said in an interview with Catalan radio station Ona FM that he's calm about the issue: "I'm very little worried about it, I'm totally relaxed. My contract end sin 2010, so there’s more than one year left and I think that's a lot of time. Everybody knows what I would like. I want to stay here at Barcelona and there's still enough time left to make this happen."

Read more:
Puyol wants to retire at Barcelona
Several clubs preparing bid for Barcelona players
Puyol: "Tattoos are one of my passions"

Several clubs preparing bid for Barcelona players

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that several European top clubs will try to sign Barcelona players during the summer transfer window.

It is believed that some of the players and their agents will use the interest to ask for a salary rise.

The paper gives an overview of which players are monitored by which clubs:

- Víctor Valdés: AC Milan
- Dani Alves: Chelsea and Manchester City
- Rafael Márquez: several English clubs
- Carles Puyol: AC Milan
- Yaya Touré: Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City
- Andrés Iniesta: Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester City
- Lionel Messi: Juventus
- Thiery Henry: Manchester City and Chelsea
- Samuel Eto'o: Chelsea and Inter Milan

With the buyout fees of the players being unattainable, Barcelona has the last word and is not planning to let one of the above-mentioned go, with the exception of Barcelona attacker and French international Thierry Henry (31). The club would be ready to listen to offers for the striker because this seems the best moment to sell the player and because an exit of Henry would allow them to rejuvenate the squad (read more here).

Read more:
Henry, Eto'o, Toure and Keita are for sale
Touré wants a pay rise this year
Messi is dream for Juventus
Manchester City working on Henry transfer

Henry could be put for sale in the summer

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that Barcelona is considering to put Barcelona forward and French international Thierry Henry (31) for sale at the end of the season.

The club thinks the player has reached his peak this season and this could therefore be the last chance to get a decent transfer fee for Henry, whose contract expires in 2011 and who earns a net year salary of 7,5 million euro, which means a cost of 10 million euro for the club. Barcelona would want to receive a transfer fee of 15 milion euro° for the Frenchman, with Manchester City being among the candidates (read more here).

If the transfer goes through, Barcelona plans to sign a new left winger. Two names are being put forward: Bayern Munich attacker and French international Franck Ribéry (25) and Arsenal winger and Dutch international Robin van Persie (25). The latter would have the support of former Barcelona player and manager Johan Cruijff.

Read more:
Barcelona holding renewal talks with Henry
Barcelona wants Van Persie for the left wing
Ribery transfer unlikely this summer

Touré wants a pay rise this year

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that Barcelona defensive midfielder and Ivory Coast international Yaya Touré (25) wants to leave the club if he doesn’t get a pay rise in the summer.

Touré earns at this moment around 2 million euro a year, the same as he did when playing at Monaco. When he signed a four-year contract in 2007, Barcelona promised that the salary would be raised after one year (read more here).

But this still didn’t happen and the Ivorian midfielder, who also doesn’t like the rotation system used by Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola, has asked his agent Dimitri Seluk to look for another club if his contract isn’t renewed soon. Touré would be one of the Barcelona players with the most offers on the table, with English Premier League club Arsenal preparing a 14 million euro° for June.

Touré is meanwhile quoted as unconfirmedly saying in an interview with French newspaper Le Parisien that he waits for a contract renewal: "I’m a professional player. If the club wants me to stay here, they are obliged to do something. I only hope that when the moment is there, everything goes well and a deal will be found quickly. Whatever happens, I would like to end my career at Monaco."

Read more:
Manchester City prepares summer bid for Toure
Agent Toure criticizes postponing renewal talks
Toure is again an option for Arsenal

Pedro could leave on loan

Spanish football site Join Futbol claims that Barcelona wing attacker and Spanish youth international Pedro (22) could leave on loan in the summer.

Spanish second division club Tenerife would be one of the interested clubs but because Barcelona prefers to let Pedro go to a first division club, this only seems an option if Tenerife, currently second-placed, promotes this season.

First division clubs Málaga and Recreativo Huelva would also be interested in Pedro, who has played several games with Barcelona B over the last months. Both club would have contacted Barcelona and the agency of the player who joined Barcelona’s youth academy in 2004.

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that Pedro has received several offers from other clubs. Barcelona would already have tried a couple of times to renew his contract that expires in 2010 but a deal couldn’t be found because Barcelona’s offer was considered to be far too low.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo reports that Barcelona has to pay Pedro’s former club San Isidro an additional transfer fee of 300 000 euro° if the Spanish winger takes part in ten official games with Barcelona’s first team, with his presence only counting if he plays at least 45 minutes (read more here).

Read more:
Pedro: "I want to work hard so I can stay"
Barça B: Valencia, Sevilla and Villareal want Jeffren
Pedro loan could get Barcelona Celta talent Joselu

Barcelona considers selling Hleb

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Barcelona attacker and Belarus international Alexander Hleb (27) could leave the club in the summer (read more here).

Although Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola still supports the player, the club is considering to sell Hleb after only one season. Several English clubs would be interested to sign him.

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that both Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona manager Guardiola are unhappy with the recent attitude and statements of Hleb.

The club would be willing to let the player go if another team would ask for him during the next transfer window.

Read more:
Guardiola denies Van Persie-Hleb swap offer
Hleb: "I know that scoring is my problem"
Hleb could already leave this summer

Madrid presidential candidate approached Eto'o

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that former Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, who is expected to be a candidate in the Madrid presidential elections in the summer, has given orders to his team to sound out Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o (27).

One of Pérez' closest staff members would have met with Josep Maria Mesalles, the agent of Eto'o, to ask if the Cameroon striker would want to join his bid.

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Barcelona wants to renew the contract of Eto'o, who is ready to hold talks, but only at the end of the season because he now wants to focus on the rest of the season (read more here).

Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola, who last summer said Eto'o could leave the club, has changed his opinion because of the performances and the attitude of the player and the technical staff is now in favour of a renewal of the contract that expires in the summer of 2010.

Asked about his statements that he would like to finish his career at Mallorca (read more here), Eto'o has meanwhile repeated this wish in an interview with Mallorca local radio station Ràdio Mania and the club's official website: "I insist that I like this club a lot, it's in my heart. I insist that I would like to finish my football career playing one or two years at Mallorca. Whatever division they play in, although hopefully it will be the first."

Read more:
First positive meeting on Eto'o renewal
Could Eto'o join Real Madrid?
Eto'o postpones renewal negotiations

Barcelona plans to offer Guardiola new contract

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that Barcelona is planning to offer Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola (38) a contract renewal to reward him for his work so far this season.

The current contract of Guardiola, that was signed last June, expires in 2010. The Catalan coach earns a fixed one million euro, with a possible extra 3 million euro in incentives if the team would win all trophies.

Barcelona wants to offer Guardiola a pay rise and a contract that would be automatically renewed each year if none of the parties opposes this.

Read more:
Guardiola signs two-year deal
Guardiola could quit as manager in 2010
Guardiola refused third contract year

Jorquera is looking for an exit

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (29) wants to leave the club during the winter transfer window because of a lack of playing time (read more here).

Jorquera, who signed earlier this year a contract renewal until the summer of 2010 (read more here), would have ordered his agent to be aware of the transfer market movements and opportunities. If a good offer comes in, the goalkeeper wants to leave in January.

Asked about Jorquera not being called up for the Catalonia versus Colombia game (read more here), Catalan national team coach Pere Gratacós said yesterday at a press conference that the player wanted to avoid getting injured:

"Jorquera has received some offers for the winter market and because he could accept one of these offers, we thought that it was better not to play this time, keeping in mind that he got seriously injured during last year's game with Catalonia."

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Spanish first division club Mallorca, who was already interested in signing the player last summer, has contacted Jorgquera again. Barcelona wouldn't have yet received any concrete offers and hasn't initially planned any transfer this winter.

Asked about a possible exit of Jorquera, Barcelona sports vice-president Rafael Yuste denied the rumours last week in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio: "I regularly talk with goalkeeping coach Juan Carlos Unzué, who keeps a close eye on the three goalkeepers and he didn't tell me anything about this."

Read more:
Guardiola asked for three goalkeepers
Medical: Green light for Jorquera
Jorquera considering January exit

Valdes is next on renewal list

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (26) is the next player with whom Barcelona wants to close a renewal deal, after the club has reached agreements on the contract renewals of midfielders Xavi and Busquets.

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain already started negotiating a few weeks ago with José Manuel Valdés, the father and agent of the player whose current contract expires in the summer of 2010. The club now wants to accelerate the talks.

Although in previous meetings some clauses have been established, a deal still wouldn't be anywhere near. With Begiristain unexpectedly having to travel to Japan to stand by his sick brother, the negotiations have now been stopped and a deal won't be closed as early as expected.

It would already have been agreed upon that Valdés will renew until 2014 and that his buyout clause will continue to be 100 million euro°. The main difference would be the salary of the Catalan goalkeeper and more specifically the division between the fixed part and the incentives.

Barcelona's absolute priority is to renew Valdés but although the club wants to make a financial effort for that, there would also have been contacts with other goalkeepers just in case the negotiations would fail. One of these goalkeepers that has been sounded out to hear more about his current contract situation and his willingness to join Barcelona is Villareal goal keeper Diego López (27) (read more here).

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that the negotiations have reached a dead point because of the high demands of Valdés. Barcelona is ready to make the player a slightly higher offer, which at this moment isn't enough for the Catalan goalkeeper who would have threatened to leave.

The first option of Valdés is nevertheless to continue at Barcelona. The club and Barcelona manager Guardiola want to keep the player but Barcelona would have fixed a maximum salary of 2,8 million euro a year, with Valdés now earning around 2 million euro.

Spanish news agency EFE claims that Valdés has asked to earn as much as top goalkeepers like Real Madrid's Casillas. Barcelona would for now have blocked the negotiations because they cannot accept the demands put forward by the Catalan player.

Read more:
Renewal talks with Valdes could get difficult
Villareal goalkeeper Diego Lopez tops wish list
Puyol, Xavi and Valdes offered to renew until 2014

Puyol could be next on renewal list

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona also wants to close the contract renewals of Barcelona players Xavi and Busquets as soon as possible because the club then can start working on other cases, like the renewal of Barcelona central defender and Spanish international Carles Puyol (30) (read more here).

The renewal of Barcelona captain Puyol will be negotiated during the coming months and a deal should be found before this season ends. The current contract of Puyol expires in the summer of 2010.

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that the club plans to start talking with Puyol soon and to offer the Catalan defender a contract until 2012 based on the existing deal. With offers from the Italian league, Puyol knows this will be his last big contract and would want to receive a serious pay rise, as a recognition for his career at the club.

Read more:
Puyol meets his look-alike
Puyol, Xavi and Valdes offered to renew until 2014
Puyol: "Guardiola is obsessed"

New Xavi renewal meeting scheduled next week

Both main Catalan sports papers claim that there's a new meeting scheduled next week between Barcelona officials and Iván Corretja, the agent of Barcelona attacking midfielder and Spanish international Xavi (28), whose contract expires in 2010.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain will meet with the agent for the third time, with the positions not having come closer much after Barcelona's initial offer was thought to be far too low by the player and his entourage. Although a solution shouldn't be expected soon, both parties have the will to reach an agreement.

Catalan sports paper Sport reports that a meeting couldn't go through this week because Xavi's agent was in London, where he accompanied Catalan synchronized swimmer Gemma Mengual, whom he also represents, and assisted the English cup game Chelsea-Burnley on Wednesday.

The paper claims that Barcelona general director of football Raül Sanllehí will assist next's weeks meeting and that it will be the second time that there will be talked about money. Barcelona would have informally offered Xavi a four-year contract with a gross year salary of 5,5 million euro the first two years and 6 million euro the last two years.

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that Begiristain and Corretja already met more than ten times and that Xavi, who is now earning 4 million euro plus incentives a year, would be asking around 8 million euro. Juventus, Arsenal and Liverpool would be ready to offer the player a contract if the renewal negotiations would collapse.

Asked about the renewal negotiations, Begiristain admitted this week to journalists that the talks aren't progressing well: "At this moment, there are some difficulties, although we would like to come to an agreement soon. I hope we will be able to unblock the negotiations."

Spanish news agency EFE claims that Barcelona knows that Xavi has several offers from other European top teams, but that the club is confident that a renewal will be signed soon. The positions would be coming closer and a deal could be reached shortly.

Read more:
Xavi is top target for Manchester United
Xavi and Barcelona still not agreeing on salary
Xavi thinks renewal agreement will be reached

Busquets rejects renewal offer

Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that Barcelona defensive midfielder and Spanish youth international Sergio Busquets (20), whose contract expires at the end of this season, has rejected a recent renewal offer by Barcelona.

Barcelona would have proposed the player a salary of 500 000 euro plus incentives. The player would receive another 500 000 euro if he plays 60 per cent of the matches and if Barcelona qualifies for the Champions League and an third sum if the team would win one or two trophies.

This offer would have been rejected by Josep Maria Orobitg, the agent of Busquets, who nevertheless will hold new talks with Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain in the coming days trying to reach an agreement.

Catalan sports paper Sport, who thinks that Busquets could earn around 1 million euro, claims that a meeting on Monday was cancelled because of the death of the father of Barcelona goalkeeping coach Unzué (read more here) but that the parties will meet in the coming days. Although the talks are just starting, the club and the player want to find a deal as soon as possible.

Asked about his renewal negotiations, Busquets is quoted by the paper as saying that he's confident about staying: "There's no problem and I'm sure that I will renew my Barcelona contract and that we will find a deal. My agent, Orobitg, is dealing with this issue, while I'm focusing on playing football and enjoying the game. At this moment I'm relaxed about how things are going and all I want right now is to keep on getting playing minutes and the more, the better."

Asked about the renewal negotiations of Busquets and Xavi, Barcelona president Joan Laporta said earlier this week to journalists that he also believes in a good outcome: "The talks are mainly a matter that is een dealt with by Txiki, but I think the negotiations need some time before we concretely reconcile the interests of both parties.

The two players will renew but everybody should be happy with the deal. Xavi and Busquets are both players of the present and future. It's very clear to them that Barcelona is their priority and that's why I am convinced that they will be with us for many more years."

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that AC Milan, Inter Milan, Arsenal, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid would already have contacted Busquets. Turin sports tabloid Tuttosport claims that Juventus is also interested.

Read more:
Busquets agent optimistic about renewal

Milan offers Busquets twice as much as Barcelona

Busquets not listening to offers by other clubs

No contract renewal talks yet for Pedro

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that Barcelona is postponing renewal negotiations with Barcelona wing attacker and Spanish youth international Pedro (21) because sports agency Bahía International, that is representing the player, hasn't the best relations with the club and with Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain.

The weekly paper claims that Pedro earns at this moment a year salary of 600 000 euro and that his contract expires in 2010. Several clubs could be willing to sign the wing attacker.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Pedro signed a ten-year contract when he joined Barcelona in 2004, with a variable salary depending on his progress. Because of his promotion to the first team, Pedro would now have a buyout clause of 150 million euro°.

Read more:
Barcelona to pay additional fee for Pedro
An introduction to the coming stars
Renewal coming up for Pedro and Victor Sanchez

Difficult renewal negotiations with Busquets

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that the renewal negotiations with Barcelona defensive midfielder and Spanish youth international Sergio Busquets (20), that started last week, aren't going smoothly (read more here).

Although the player, whose contract expires next year, wants to stay with Barcelona and both parties want to reach an agreement as soon as possible, talks were suspended this week. The salary issue would be the main problem.

Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that Busquets and Barcelona agree on the duration of the new contract, four years, but that they have conflicting positions on the fixed share and the incentives share of the salary. Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that Barcelona will probably have to pay five to ten times the salary they would have paid if a new contract would have been negotiated last summer.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that several European top clubs would have shown interest for Busquets. Italian Serie A club AC Milan would be one of those clubs, with AC Milan sports director Arido Braida already having contacted the entourage of the player by phone.

British tabloid The Daily Mirror claims that Arsenal and Juventus are looking to sign Busquets. And Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Spanish national team coach Vicente del Bosque has recommended his former club Real Madrid to make a move for the Catalan midfielder.

Read more:

Busquets wants to renew despite Milan interest

Renewal negotiations with Busquets have started

Busquets will be offered to renew until 2014

Xavi renewal talks still going on

Barcelona sports paper Sport claims that the negotiations on the contract renewal of Barcelona attacking midfielder and Spanish international Xavi (28), whose current contract expires in 2010, are still going on (read more here).

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain would already have met seven times with Iván Corretja, Xavi's agent. The last time was last Wednesday. While Barcelona had hoped to close a deal before the end of October, this doesn't seem to be possible at this stage.

Although the negotiation are well-advanced and the player could sign until 2014, there still would be serious differences about the salary. Xavi would want to be promoted to the second level of top earners, alongside for example Puyol.

Asked about a possible renewal, Joaquim Henrnández, the father of the player, has said in an interview with Catalan radio station Com Ràdio that his son plans to sign the renewal: "Every year, Xavi has received offers from other clubs but his mind is made up. As long as Barcelona wants him, he doesn't want to go nowhere.

It's normal that Barcelona now wants to offer him a long-term contract. Both parties have the same goal, so there won't be any problem. He will sign for three or four more years. He's happy to be here and his dream is to end his career with Barcelona. After that he would like to work with young players at the youth academy."

Catalan sports weekly Gol claims that Xavi, who has a buyout clause of 60 million euro°, has already confirmed to Barcelona president Joan Laporta and Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola that he would want to stay with the club.

Barcelona would offer Xavi a renewal until 2013 or 2014 and could offer him almost the double of his current salary. Several European top clubs are following the events, ready to make a move if things don't go like expected.

Read more:
Xavi could be offered contract for life
Xavi: "There's no bigger Barcelona fan than me"
Messi, Xavi and Eto'o candidates for Golden Ball

Will Henry leave in January?

Asked if he could be tempted if a club like Manchester City would ask for him during the January transfer window (read more here), Barcelona forward and French international Thierry Henry (31) has said in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio that he hasn't plans to leave:

"At this moment I'm not yet thinking about leaving Barcelona in the winter and I think this won't change. I don't know. In life there can happen things you don't expect. I didn't think that I would leave Arsenal either and look where I am now.

Physically I'm here but I have another life too. In fact, my life is in London because that's where my daughter is. I think about her, that's normal, but it doesn't affect me. I have to do my job and I know when I have to be focused. Despite that, I don't regret my transfer and I feel very good in Barcelona. The food, the weather and the city are incredible.

I understand the criticism I'm receiving because I didn't yet won anything with Barcelona and this needs to change this season. If Arsenal would have won the Champions League in 2006, I could have decided to move one year earlier. Now I didn't arrive in Barcelona at the right time because I was injured.

Rijkaard asked me if I was able to play and I didn't want to be out for three months just after arriving. For my body, it would have been better if I would have said no since I had been out for six months. Nobody forced me to play, it was my own decision and fault because I really wanted to play.

I prefer to play as a centre forward but the coach wants me on the wing. That's it, there's no problem. I met with the coach before the season. We talked about a lot of things, but I want to keep that between us. I don't like to think about the past, the things are how they are."

Asked about a possible exit in January, Henry didn't exclude a winter transfer in an interview with French sports paper L'Equipe if his situation wouldn't change in the coming months: "We should talk about it at that time then. I had a discussion with Guardiola before the season about my position. For me, that was very clarifying and I don't want to say more about it. This is what made me stay in Barcelona this summer despite having received several offers from the English Premier League. But I don't regret having stayed."

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol meanwhile claims that Henry has asked his agent to be alert in the coming months. The Frenchman wouldn't mind a quick exit because several of his sponsors have warned him that they won't accept another season like the previous one because of the further negative impact on his popularity. Henry would therefore be open to the possibility of entering in a players' exchange or a transfer to England or the United States.

Barcelona would have already been trying to sell Henry this summer but the operation was then blocked by new Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola.

Read more:
Manchester City will come after Henry in January
Barcelona would consider offer for Henry
Manchester United considering Henry bid

Where could Eto'o play next season?

There was Kuruvchi. And Madrid. But since Barcelona made clear that the player isn't part of next season's plans, Barcelona forward and Cameroonian international Samuel Eto'o (27) has been linked to a dozen clubs. An overview.

Inter Milan
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claimed that Inter Milan is discretely working on the transfer of Eto'o and would already have held talks with Eto'o.

The Cameroonian striker is one of the favourite players of Inter manager José Mourinho and Eto'o would be positive about the option.

Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that Inter is seriously interested but didn't yet make a formal offer to Barcelona. Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that Inter and Eto'o have already closed a deal but Eto'o would only join the Italian champions if Barcelona will let him go for not more than 20 million euro°.

Catalan sports paper Sport nevertheless claims that Inter manager Mourinho has made clear to Inter president Moratti that he doesn't want to sign any player from Barcelona.

Valencia
Valencia regional sports paper Super Deporte claimed that Eto'o would be the media bomb (then) new Valencia chief executive Juan Villalonga was preparing. Barcelona would have been asking 15 million euro° for the player because they didn't want him to start the pre-season.

Catalan sports paper Sport claimed that Valencia sports director Azkargorta was working on an attacking pair Villa-Eto'o. Valencia would have been ready to pay 25 million euro°. Valencia regional newspaper Las Provincias claimed that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain was trying to include Eto'o in a swap deal with Valencia players Silva or Villa.

The rumour grew when Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain said at a press conference that Barcelona doesn't exclude considering offers for Eto'o coming from other Primera División teams.

Valencia put out an official statement denying the rumours: "In view of the information that appeared in certain media about the supposed interest of Valencia CF in signing in FC Barcelona player Samuel Eto'o, the Club wants to express that there were and there will be no contacts with the player to sign him."

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that the option was strongly linked to the arrival of former Spanish national team coach Luis Aragonés as new Valencia manager. Sports weekly paper Gol and Madrid sports tabloid Marca claim that Valenca has sounded out the player but stopped every further attempt when they heard how much Eto'o was asking.

Tottenham
Catalan sports paper Sport and British tabloid The Daily Mirror claim that Eto'o is the absolute priority of Tottenham manager Juande Ramos in case striker Dimitar Berbatov would leave the English Premier League club this summer.

British tabloid The Sun claims that Tottenham appears the most likely English destination for Eto'o since the club is resigned to losing both Berbatov and Keane before the start of the season. Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that Tottenham isn't really an option for Eto'o since it would mean a step back for himequipe.

Lyon
In an interview with French sports paper L'Equipe, Olympique Lyon president said today that the transfer of Eto'o could be a possibility: "Samuel was close to joining us four years ago when he was playing for Mallorca. If he wants to come tomorrow, manager Claude Puel will be delighted and we have the financial means for the operation.

Another thing is if it's a good idea to bring in a player who earns a lot more than the other players? You have to find a balance, on and off the pitch. But if the manager says we need Eto'o to win the Champions League, we will try everything to sign him even when he's not really within our reach."

Read more:
Could Eto'o join Real Madrid?
Eto'o agent doesn't exclude continuation
Why was Eto'o yesterday in Uzbekistan?

Barcelona board considers Aguero transfer

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that a growing part of the Barcelona board is considering the transfer of Atlético Madrid forward and Argentinian international Sergio "Kun" Agüero (20).

With all clubs asking high transfer fees for every player Barcelona is interested in, some board members think it's then better to pay big for a sure value like Agüero. The Argentinian, whose contract with Atlético Madrid expires in 2014, has a buyout clause of 55 million euro° (read more here).

Besides football reasons, the election climate with a vote of no confidence and possible presidential elections coming up could be an extra reason to bring in a star player like Agüero. If the opinion polls would appear to be negative for the current board, the pressure to transfer the Argentinian striker could increase.

The paper claims that the player would like to join his compatriot Lionel Messi in Barcelona. If Barcelona can come to an agreement with Atlético or pays the buyout clause, Agüero would be delighted to leave his club and sign for Barcelona.

Read more:

Possible next Barcelona president wants Aguero

Board member leaked Guardiola preference

Villa is Barcelona target