Barcelona has been in contact with 22 players

Madrid sports tabloid As that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain has already sounded out or been offered twenty-two players this year.

The main reason why Barcelona still didn't sign any players would mainly be the lack of financial means.

The list of 22 players would consist of the following names:


Sergio Asenjo (Real Valladolid)
Karim Benzema (Olympique Lyon)
Bruno Alves (Porto)
Dmytro Chygrynskiy (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Luis Filipe (Deportivo La Coruña)

Diego Forlán (Atlético Madrid)
Eden Hazard (Lille)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan)
Keirrison (Palmeiras)
Florent Malouda (Chelsea)
Javier Mascherano (Liverpool)

Juan Mata (Valencia)
Maxwell (Inter Milan)
Felipe Melo (Fiorentina)
Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich)
Robinho (Manchester City)

David Silva (Valencia)
Robin van Persie (Arsenal)
Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)
David Villa (Valencia)
Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
Yuri Zhirkov (CSKA Moscow)

Van Persie, Malouda and Mata next on the list

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona is already looking at other options in case the transfer of Bayern Munich player Ribéry wouldn't be possible.

Arsenal winger and Dutch international Robin van Persie (25 - picture), Chelsea left winger and French international Florent Malouda (28) and Valencia left winger Juan Manuel Mata (21) would, in that order, be the other players preferred by the coaching staff for the left wing.

Read more:
Barcelona reconsidering Van Persie transfer
Barcelona planning six transfers
Malouda is on the list

Barcelona reconsidering Van Persie transfer

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo unconfirmedly claims that Barcelona is reconsidering the transfer of Arsenal winger and Dutch international Robin van Persie (25).

Because the transfer of Ribéry would have become more difficult, Barcelona is again reopening other options, with Van Persie being the first name on the table. The Dutch attacker still didn't renew his contract that expires next summer and could therefore be available for a transfer fee of around 10 million euro°.

British tabloid News of the World claims that Van Persie, who has been offered the double of his current salary by Arsenal, is postponing a new deal with Arsenal, which could force the English Premier League club to listen to offers coming in during the summer transfer window.

Read more:
Barcelona preparing bid for Van Persie
Henry, Eto'o, Toure and Keita are for sale
Barcelona moving for Arsenal trio

Barcelona preparing bid for Van Persie

Two British tabloids claimed yesterday that Barcelona is preparing a bid for Arsenal winger and Dutch international Robin van Persie (25), who is postponing signing a contract renewal and wants his club to be more competitive (read more here).

While The Daily Mirror claims that Barcelona plans to make a bid of 33 million euro° for the Dutch wing attacker whose contract expires in the summer of 2010, The People claims the bid will be exactly half of that: 16,5 million euro°.

Asked about his contract situation, Van Persie said last week in an interview with Uefa's Champions Magazine that he is happy with the terms on offer but that he's not yet sure if Arsenal is the right club for him in the long term: "Financially Arsenal's last offer is fine, but that isn't everything for me. It's about my ambitions and how they can be fulfilled. In the last four years I've only won one prize, the FA Cup, and that is too little. I want to push through to achieve more.

In Spanish papers there are so many names mentioned and I haven’t heard anything concrete from Barcelona. I can’t do anything about those rumours. I'm still in negotiations with Arsenal, and it's going well, in a very positive atmosphere. There are further meetings planned. The club and I want the same, and it's our intention to achieve that. We have all the other factors in place: fantastic stadium, dedicated support and money in the bank. Now it's about making that final push. I certainly feel I can play an important role in taking Arsenal to a higher level.

I believe the wild days are behind you when you reach 25. From this age on, you should be reaping the rewards of what you've learned. After seven years in professional football, I now have what I need to go further. I've heard and seen enough - it's as if I've crossed a barrier. I see players between 25 and 30 having their best years. In a certain sense, it feels like a voyage of discovery - and I feel I'm where I want to be as a footballer. This also applies to physical development. Now, I can play out matches a lot easier."

Read more:
Barcelona moving for Arsenal trio
Guardiola denies Van Persie-Hleb swap offer
Henry, Eto'o, Toure and Keita are for sale

Henry, Eto'o, Toure and Keita are for sale

British newspaper The Observer claims that Barcelona is preparing to sell players in the summer because of an unexpected 30 million euro deficit due to a dispute over television rights, which would endanger the club's transfers' plan.

Barcelona will encourage Manchester City interest to step up their interest in Barcelona forward and French international Thierry Henry (31) to support their own recruitment strategy.

They would like to replace Henry with Arsenal winger and Dutch international Robin van Persie (25) and add his Arsenal team-mate Cesc Fàbregas (21) to their midfield, but currently do not have the resources to fund both transfers.

Although Henry has been a more effective force this campaign, the Frenchman turns 32 in August and is considered replaceable. While Barcelona would accept far less than the 125 million euro° buyout clause, the player himself is understood to be unwilling to switch the success and climate of Barcelona for the uncertainty of chasing a top-four place at Manchester City and the possibility of jeopardising his place in France's 2010 World Cup squad.

Barcelona would also be receptive to offers for forward Samuel Eto'o (28), who they fear losing for nothing when his contract expires at the end of next season, and midfielders Yaya Touré (25) and Seydou Keita (29), aware that both midfielders are likely to be on Africa Cup duty in January.

Read more:
Henry could be put for sale in the summer
Manchester City prepares summer bid for Toure
Van Persie to replace Henry next summer

Poll result: Next season's left winger

This is the final result of the blog's Who's your favourite left winger for next season? poll:


48% franck ribery
23% david silva
16% thierry henry
6% andres iniesta
4% someone else
3% robin van persie



Read more:
Agent Ribery is pushing for a transfer
Possible new bid for Silva
Barcelona holding renewal talks with Henry

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

Van Persie wants to win trophies

Asked about how things stand with his renewal negotiations, Arsenal winger and Dutch international Robin van Persie (25), whose contract with Arsenal expires in 2010 and who has been linked with a move to Barcelona (read more here), has said in an interview with British tabloid The Sun that he will sign a new contract if his club shows ambition:

"Financially the last offer made by the club is fine but that isn’t everything for me. It’s about my ambitions and how they can be fulfilled in the coming years. The club and I want the same and it is our intention we achieve that.

Arsenal have promised me they will do everything possible to make that extra step to a level where we win prizes on a regular basis. In the last four years I’ve had only one prize, the FA Cup, and that’s not enough. I want to achieve more and I feel I can play an important role in bringing Arsenal to a higher level."

Read more:
Guardiola denies Van Persie-Hleb swap offer
Barcelona moving for Arsenal trio
Van Persie to replace Henry next summer

Barcelona moving for Arsenal trio

British newspaper The Observer claims that Barcelona have placed Arsenal midfielder and Spanish international Cesc Fàbregas (21), Arsenal winger and Dutch international Robin van Persie (25) and Arsenal forward and Togo international Emmanuel Adebayor (24) on a list of planned summer transfers.

Robin van Persie would be a priority target for Barcelona. An offer of cash plus former Arsenal player Alexander Hleb (27) would have been rejected last month (read more here) because Arsenal is still angered by the manner in which the Belarus midfielder left the club last summer.

Barcelona would nevertheless believe that they can persuade Arsenal to sell Van Persie in the summer when the player enters the final twelve months of his contract. The Dutchman has less than one and a half year left on his present deal and is stalling on an extension. Van Persie is understood to be concerned about Arsenal's failure to compete for trophies in recent times.

Barcelona would meanwhile also be working on approaches for Adebayor and Cesc. Adebayor would be Guardiola's first choice as centre forward if Barcelona player Samuel Eto'o leaves in the summer, while Cesc remains a long-term target for the club. Barcelona does not consider it possible to capture all three in a single transfer window but expects Arsenal to release at least one of them to raise funds for the reconstruction of their own squad.

British tabloid News of the World also claims that Barcelona is interested Cesc, Van Persie and Adebayor and that the three players will leave if Arsenal doesn't qualify for Champions League football this season. A source close to Arsenal is quoted as saying: "There is a real problem developing because the big names are bemused at the way things are going.

If Arsenal finish outside the top four, there’s no way the likes of Van Persie, Adebayor and Fabregas will hang around. They love playing for Arsene Wenger but they also want to win things. And, as things stand, they can’t see that happening. It’s not about how much money they can earn, it’s about winning trophies for these guys. They want to see some ambition and they want to see the club buying the right kind of players."

Read more:
Bid for Cesc and Van Persie being planned
Barcelona considers buying top striker
Van Persie to replace Henry next summer

Guardiola denies Van Persie-Hleb swap offer

Asked about a rumour that Barcelona has offered Arsenal the return of Barcelona attacker and Belarus international Alexander Hleb (27) in exchange for the transfer of Arsenal winger and Dutch international Robin van Persie (25), Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola has said at a press conference that he's not aware of that:

"Hleb hasn't been offered. Like I already said recently, I didn't yet speak with the sports department about the incoming and outgooing transfer for next season."

Asked about his situation at Barcelona, Hleb meanwhile seemed to suggest in an interview with the official Uefa website that he could be looking for a move in the summer if he doesn't get more playing minutes: "Of course I want more time on the pitch. I will fight for a place in the starting eleven until the end of the season. We will see what might happen in the summer if I am unsuccessful, but I do not want to sit on the bench."

Read more:
Hleb could already leave this summer
A goalkeeper, a left back and a left winger
Barcelona wanted Cesc-Hleb package deal

Hleb could already leave this summer

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona is already busy planning for next season (read more here).

The priority of the club would be strenghtening the left wing. The interest in Bayern Munich players Philipp Lahm (25) and Franck Ribéry, who can both also play on the right, should be seen in that perspective (read more here).

Because the future of Barcelona forwards Samuel Eto'o (27) and Thierry Henry (31) is uncertain, Barcelona is also monitoring several other attacking players who could join the club in the summer.

Lyon player Karim Benzema (21) and Le Mans player Gervinho (21) are on the list, although Arsenal player Robin van Persie (24) and Valencia players David Villa (27) and David Silva (23) would be among the favourite options of both Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola if a key player would leave next summer.

Gabriel Milito (28), returning from injury, and Henrique (22), returing from loan, will be fully part of the squad next summer. Sylvinho's contract expires and won't be renewed, while Martín Cáceres (21) and Alexander Hleb (27) could both leave, on loan or permanently, at the end of the season.

Read more:
Bid for Cesc and Van Persie being planned
Ivorian Le Mans striker Gervinho being scouted
Barcelona plans few changes in the summer

Villa and Van Persie among summer targets

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola will soon meet to start preparing the next season.

The paper claims that two of the biggest names that will be on the transfer target list for next summer are Arsenal winger and Dutch international Robin van Persie (25) and Valencia forward and Spanish intervational David Villa (27).

Four criteria will especially be taken into account when deciding on the incoming transfers:

- Limitation of non-'European Union' players. With Cáceres, Touré and Hleb, Barcelona has already three non-EU players, Henrique could be number four next season. That's why the club prefers to sign players with a EU passport.

- Africa Cup 2010. Touré, Keita and Eto'o will most probably not be available during the month of January and maybe a part of February next season. That's why the club prefers not to sign any more African players who will participate in the tournament.

- Lack of left-footed players. With the right wing being stronger this season, Barcelona prefers to bring in footballers able to play on the other wing.

- Affordable price. There's money to spend but the club won't pay excessive transfer fees.

Read more:
Barcelona wants Van Persie for the left wing
Villa again linked with Barcelona move
Bid for Cesc and Van Persie being planned

Bid for Cesc and Van Persie being planned

British tabloid The Daily Star claims that Barcelona is interested in signing Arsenal midfielder and Spanish international Cesc Fàbregas (21) and Arsenal winger and Dutch international Robin van Persie (25).

Barcelona would be confident that they can sign the two Arsenal players after having successfully completed the transfer of their former team-mate Alexander Hleb earlier this year.

While Fabregas has always been on Barcelona's wish list, the tabloid now claims that Van Persie has been added following a meeting between Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain over the weekend, with a Barcelona source being quoted as saying: "This is not the first time that Barça have looked at Van Persie, but there is a feeling that he has now matured and is ready for the move."

Barcelona would be planning to make a 50 million euro° package bid for the two players during next summer's transfer window. Barcelona defensive midfielder and Ivory Coast international Yaya Touré (25) could be used as part of an exchange deal with Arsenal.

Read more:
Van Persie to replace Henry next summer
Arsenal renewal or Barcelona move for Cesc
Do we buy? Fabregas.

A goalkeeper, a left back and a left winger

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola will meet next week to talk about the squad for the 2009-2010 season.

They will make a general analysis of the renewal negotiations, the positions that should be strengthened and the player's market. Barcelona wants to be ready and have clear ideas when the transfer market will start to move in the spring of 2009.

The idea is that there will only be few transfers, probably two or three, to fill up concrete needs. The club doesn't plan to transfer big star players and unless one of the current key players unexpectedly leaves next summer, Barcelona will invest less than this year.

In principle, Barcelona plans to buy players for three positions: a goalkeeper, a left back defender and a left winger. Barcelona wants to buy a goalkeeper who can compete with Valdés and with Sylvinho most probably leaving and Guardiola having some doubts on Abidal, a new left back seems to be a certainty.

Because neither Henry or Iniesta are natural wingers, Barcelona also wants to sign a
left winger. Valencia left winger and Spanish international David Silva (22), whom Barcelona already tried to sign last summer (read more here), and Arsenal left winger and Dutch international Robin van Persie (25) are seen as the main candidates.

Read more:
Van Persie to replace Henry next summer
Barcelona keeps on scouting Diego Lopez
Barcelona is still preferred destination for Silva

Van Persie to replace Henry next summer

British tabloid The Daily Mail claims that Barcelona is lining up Arsenal winger and Dutch international Robin van Persie (25) to take over from Barcelona forward and French international Thierry Henry (31) next season.

Barcelona believes that Henry will prefer a move back to England to be closer to his daughter.

Van Persie, who has a contract with Arsenal until 2011 but would find the chance to join Barcelona hard to resist, fits the left-sided attacking role Barcelona is seeking.

Read more:
Will Henry leave in January?
Barcelona wants Van Persie for the left wing
Henry not thinking about leaving Barcelona

Barcelona wants Van Persie for the left wing

Madrid sports tabloid Marca unconfirmedly claims that Barcelona is interested in Arsenal winger and Dutch international Robin van Persie (25).

Barcelona wants to sign Van Persie next summer since Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain see the player as the ideal candidate to fill the gap on the left wing.

Barcelona would already have sounded out the entourage of the player and Van Persie would be delighted about joining Barelona.

The Dutch wing attacker has given Barcelona the green light to start talking with Arsenal but the English Premier League club, that has offered the player to renew his contract, nevertheless doesn't seem to be willing to let Van Persie go next year.

Read more:
Van Persie on three-men shortlist
No more transfers
Bayern rejects offer for Ribery

No more transfers

Both main Catalan sports papers claim today that Barcelona has decided not to make anymore transfers after Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola met yesterday in Kraków hours before the Champions League match against Wisla.

Guardiola made clear he's very happy with the current squad and thinks he has all he needs to start the season. The club was interested in signing a player for the left wing who has scoring ability and international experience and who shouldn't cost more than 20 million euro but the names put forward by Txiki didn't convince the coach and both agreed on not buying another player.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that, besides the usual suspects, Arsenal winger and Dutch international Robin van Persie (25) and Lyon attacking midfielder and Swedish international Kim Källström (26) were the latest names that were discussed.

Both Sport and El Mundo Deportivo claim that Barcelona could nevertheless well enter the transfer market next January and sign one of the players that were being looked at this summer.

Read more:
Arshavin confirms Barcelona offer
Pre-agreement on Palacio transfer put on hold
Agents deny Capel exit

News of the day - Friday

(This post will be updated throughout the day.)


Txiki wants to bring in another player for the left wing, there's a three-men short list: Palacio, Arshavin and Van Persie, the board has already contacted the entourage of all three and the reactions were positive, Zenit could lower the asking price for Arshavin to 20 million euro, Van Persie is the last option since he already made his debut with Arsenal in the Champions League last week, Guardiola will have the final say (Sport)
read more

Léo Rabelo, the agent of Thiago Neves, doesn't exclude that the player could leave this transfer period, Fluminense vice president Tote Menezes says that the club doesn't own the player so his future doesn't depend on them (Lance)
read more

Delcir Sonda, the president of Grupo Sonda who holds 66 per cent of the transfer rights of Neves, says that the attacker could leave for Manchester City although there are also other interested clubs, his agent Rabelo is in Europe since yesterday trying to close a deal (Lance)
read more

Manchester City are investigating the possibility of making Thierry Henry a "box office" signing in January (The Guardian)
read more

Benzema says he wants to play one day with a team that can win the Champions League although he doesn't yet know the date of his exit nor his destination (French sports weekly Sport)
read more

If São Paulo lowers the 25 million euro asking price for Hernanes, Barcelona plans to make a new attempt to sign the midfielder next summer (Sport)
read more

Barcelona is interested in Brazilian attacker João Bueno de Camargo "Joãozinho" (17), who plays for Brazilian third division club Noroeste and is currently on trial with Inter Milan, Barcelona also invited the player for a test period (Calcio Mercato)
read more

New players for a new system?

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that, although new Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola will not stick to one way of playing, the basic system will be 4-3-1-2.

With Dani Alves being able to cover the whole right wing, Messi would move to a more central position, with someone on the left (which could be Iniesta) and a strong centre forward who can play with his back to the opposite goal, can deal with Alves' centres and with the passes inside by Messi.

For that centre forward position, Adebayor would be the absolute priority and Guardiola wouldn't even see another option available on the market. If a transfer of Adebayor is not possible, Guardiola would put Henry as centre forward and would transfer a back-up for the centre forward position (which could be Mario Goméz) and sign a real winger (like Van Persie or Malouda).

Read more:

Looking for a left winger

Bayern rejects offer for Ribery

Looking for a new Larsson

Bayern rejects offer for Ribery

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that German champions Bayern Munich have rejected an offer from Barcelona for wing attacker and French international Franck Ribéry (24), who was Barcelona's first winger's choice.

Because future Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola thinks that the wings attackers are an essential part of the system he wants to play next season, the former Barcelona captain has stressed the need to bring in at least one top class winger.

Sport claims that Barcelona has therefore contacted the clubs of the three players who are now on top the list: Arsenal strikers Robin van Persie (24) and Theo Walcott (19) and Valencia left winger David Silva (22) (read more here). The club hopes to close a deal with one of those players as soon as possible.

Read more:

How things stand: Wing attackers

Ribery says 'non, merci'

Looking for a left winger