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

Barcelona following Dutch topscorer El Hamdaoui

Dutch television channel NOS claims that Barcelona is interested in AZ Alkmaar forward Mounir El Hamdaoui (24).

AZ president Dirk Scheringa confirmed yesterday that Barcelona was amongst the twenty clubs that have sent a scout to see the league game against Twente on Saturday, but didn't want to specify the name of the player Barcelona has been watching this weekend.

El Hamdaoui is at this moment the leading goal scorer in the Dutch league. The Dutch-Moroccan striker scored this season 13 goals in 10 games.

Read more:
Barcelona is following AZ striker Dembele
PSV's Afellay is on the list
Ex-Barça: Patrick Kluivert to AZ Alkmaar


Watch this video of El Hamdaoui:

Neeskens plans sabbatical year

Asked about his plans for the future, Barcelona assistant coach Johan Neeskens (56), who will officially leave Barcelona at the end of this month, has said in an interview with Dutch television channel NOS that he is at this moment not considering to accept any offer.

The initial plan of Neeskens, who also played for Barcelona between 1974 and 1979, is now to take a sabbatical year during which he plans to stay and live in Barcelona.

Neeskens joined Barcelona as first assistant of manager Frank Rijkaard in the summer of 2006 after having acted as assistant of Australian national team coach Guus Hiddink at the World Cup in Germany. With Barcelona, Neeskens won one Spanish super cup in 2006.

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What's next for Rijkaard?

Who will assist Guardiola?

Barcelona monitors Ronaldo events