Sergio Garcia close to a return

Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that Zaragoza forward Sergio García (24), who was surprisingly added to the Spain list for the Euro 2008 (read more here), is close to return to Barcelona.

Barcelona has already contacted Mágico Díaz, the agent of the player, and García would be delighted by the idea of returning to Barcelona. From the first contact with Zaragoza it seems that the transfer fee could be around 10 million euro°.

Zaragoza has asked all parties for some discretion in the transfer talks since the club, who was relegated this season and has to sell some players (read more here), wants to give the fans some time to get over the frustration of past season. Transfers are therefore not expected to be announced in the next two weeks.

Future Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola explicitly asked Barcelona president Joan Laporta for the Zaragoza striker and Barcelona youth product as he wants to give the squad more caracter and an own identity.

Read more:

Could Barcelona pick up a Zaragoza player?

Euro 2008: Spain squad

Guiza considered to be a good buy

French battle for Thuram coming up

French football weekly paper France Football claims that French Ligue 1 club Monaco is considering to offer Barcelona central defender and French international Lilian Thuram (36), whose contract with Barcelona expires in June and will not be renewed (read more here), a one-year deal. Olympique Marseille would also be following the player.

French sports paper L'Equipe claims that Paris Saint-Germain is also interested in Thuram but hopes the defender will accept a serious salary reduction in the last stage of his career. Thuram would be willing to listen to an offer from the club.

Asked about his future, Thuram said at a press conference on Monday that he indeed thinks about continuing next season: "I'm considering to keep on playing after the European championships. One of my possible destinations is a French club. But everything remains possible."

In an interview with Monaco radio station Radio Monte Carlo yesterday, Thuram seemed more clear on his future: "I hereby confirm that if a club still wants me, I will be a football player next season. A return to France is certainly not impossible. I was raised in the Paris region, so Paris Saint-Germain of course means something to me. I remember how I went to see their games at the Parc des Princes when I was a boy."

Read more:
Arsenal considering Thuram offer
Thuram to sell energy drinks
Thuram wants to keep on playing

Euro 2008: Netherlands squad

Dutch national team coach Marco van Basten has named his squad for Euro 2008. Former Barcelona left back defender Giovanni van Bronckhorst (33 - Feyenoord - 2003-2007) is included in the list.

The Netherlands, who were drawn into Group C along with Italy, France and Romania, will play their first match of the tournament on the 9th June, against Italy.

Look for the Barcelona link in the squads of Portugal, Sweden and Spain

(Barça Transfer Zone will follow the performances of the Barcelona players at the Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland)

Intense contacts on Silva

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo and Madrid sports tabloid As claim that Barcelona is working hard on the transfer of Valencia left winger and Spanish international David Silva (22) (read more here).

Because Valencia needs to sell players, they could be willing to accept a bid of around 20 million euro°. Barcelona is preparing a bid but did not yet make a formal offer. Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain would be in permanent contact with Amadeo Rengel, the agent of Silva with whom he has an excellent relationship.

Asked about his future, David Silva said this weekend to journalists that he's now focusing on the Euro in Austria and switzerland: "When the Euro ends, we'll talk about what can happen. For now, I can say that I have a buyout clause of 90 million euro°, which is of course an absurd price."

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Silva assisted the play-off game that Barcelona B played near his hometown on Sunday and that the player talked there a while with Barcelona B manager and future Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola.

Read more:

Silva first choice for left wing

New talks with Silva

Looking for a left winger

Coloccini option drops back

Both main Catalan sports papers agree that Deportivo La Coruña central defender and Argentinian international Fabricio Coloccini (26) is no longer a main target for Barcelona.

Although Coloccini's agent Marcelo Lombilla was in Barcelona last weekend and Barcelona has held talks with the player's entourage over the past months (read more here), Barcelona would now focus its attention on Villareal central defender Cáceres (read more here).

Asked about the rumours linking him with a summer move to Barcelona, Coloccini said last week in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 that he welcomes the interest: "Barcelona is amongst the best clubs in the world and you always want to play in one of them. There are always a lot of rumours but it gives a very good feeling that Barcelona is thinking about me. There has been no formal offer yet but I would be willing to listen to it. Deportivo needs to sell and we have talked about my situation in the beginning of the season."

Madrid sports paper Marca meanwhile claims that Deportivo president Augusto César Lendoiro will not hold the promise he made Coloccini last summer to let the player go this year when an offer of 10 million euro° comes in (read more here).

Read more:

Deal with Coloccini

Looking for a central defender

Negotiations with Coloccini to start soon