Barcelona Thread!

[FernandoFowler9]

Apparently not.

[SUFC STARZ]

It was all talk but then Chelsea signed a new right back.

Talk at Barca this morning is that Eto'o is in talks with both Chelsea and Jose at Inter Milan.

[FernandoFowler9]

Barcelona could be set to offer want-away striker Samuel Eto’o for AC Milan star Andrea Pirlo, according to DiarioSport.

Eto’o is looking highly likely to leave the Camp Nou this summer in search of a new challenge away from Spain, and he is well known to be on a three-man striker shortlist at Milan along with Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Adebayor.

DiarioSport says that Barca are ready to sell Eto’o to the Rossoneri, providing they receive Andrea Pirlo as part of a swap deal.

Pirlo is widely regarded as the best deep lying playmaker in world football, and a crucial part of the AC Milan set-up.

However the 29-year-old, who has had a poor domestic season, is said to be unsettled at San Siro and considering his future.

Earlier this week Pirlo said: "It would be very nice to taste experiences elsewhere, and indeed there are some proposals very flattering to me.

"With this shirt I've won everything there is to win."

New Barcelona boss Josep Guardiola is a huge admirer of Pirlo, partly because he has a similar style of play to which the Spaniard had when he was a player.

Guardiola is now said to be ready to do everything possible to bring Pirlo to Catalonia, and this includes offering Eto’o in exchange.

[FernandoFowler9]

Valencia will accept no less than €40m for their star striker David Villa and Barcelona are preparing a mega bid according to Sport.

Tha Spnaish paper claims Los Che are looking to curb their economic downturn and that several players will be leaving the Mestalla in order to bring their finances back in line.

Amongst those heading for the exit door is Villa who is a target for every European top club which can afford his services.

The Spain international has used the European championship as a shop window following his brilliant hat-trick against Russia on Tuesday.

Valencia are now looking to take full advantage by hiking up the striker's price tag to a massive €40m. Barcelona will need to fight off interest from bitter rivals Real Madrid who are also after the player.

Los Blancos would rather land Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo but if that fails then Villa is their next target.

The Blaugrana are currently in the process of changing things up in attack and with Samuel Eto’o on the verge of leaving, the door will be open for Villa to come in and take his place.

Barcelona directors are currently looking at their options carefully as they try and plan their next move.

However, before they can swoop for Villa, they have to ensure they have enough means by off-loading a few players.

[FernandoFowler9]

With Pep Guardiola officially taking up his new duties today as the new Barcelona coach, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger telling AC Milan by fax to stop pursuing Emmanuel Adebayor, a new story has emerged linking Barca with the Gunners' Togolese striker.

New Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has stated categorically that the Catalan club's top striker, Samuel Eto'o, will be leaving Camp Nou this summer - and revealed that they'd like Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor to replace him.

According to Marca, Barcelona have put in a £24million (€30m) bid for Adebayor, despite the fact that AC Milan failed in a concerted attempt to sign the Arsenal striker last week.

According to this source, the fact that Milan said Arsenal were looking for too much money for the striker has enouraged Barcelona to believe he must be for sale at some price.

The site also claimed to quote Adebayor saying: "There is not a player who could say no to Barcelona. If Barcelona make an offer for me and reach an agreement with Arsenal, I would be delighted to go there."

If that is true, Guardiola will no doubt feel Barca can test Arsenal's determination not to sell the player. That resolve was underlined when Wenger sent a signed fax to Milan insisting that Adebayor would not be leaving the Emirates this summer for any amount of money.

Wenger told the Rossoneri insider that Adebayor is not for sale — 'not for money or gold’.

Barcelona will presumably have both commodities available with which to tempt the Gunners if they realise the sales of Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Deco.

But they may also get a terse fax from Wenger.