Chelsea Planning To Smash Transfer Record For Barca Star?

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Chelsea are understood to be considering making a world record bid for Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta, with Blues boss Luiz Felipe Scolari keen to lure the Spanish International away from the Nou Camp, according to Catalan newspaper Sport.

24-year-old Iniesta has been identified by the Premier League club as the player to turn around, what has been a disappointing first season in charge at Stamford Bridge for former Portugal and Brazil coach Scolari. Chelsea are 2nd in the Premiership, but have performed poorly against other teams of the ‘big four’, which was highlighted in their 3-0 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Chelsea reportedly made an offer of £42million two-years ago to bring Iniesta to England and are now set to reignite their interest in the EURO 2008 winner in a bid to get their faltering season back on track.

Barca allowed Deco to leave the Blaugrana last summer for Chelsea, with Iniesta, who has been at Barca since 1996, proving a more than adequate replacement for the Portuguese International. Deco has struggled to regain his early season form at Stamford Bridge, which has led Scolari to Iniesta, with it remaining to be seen if Chelsea owner Roman Abramovic will bankroll the purchase of Spaniard after refusing to go above a certain point with both Robinho and Dani Alves last summer.

Sport claims that Chelsea are preparing an offer for Iniesta, with it also understood that should Barcelona allow the midfielder to leave. They would expect a fee in excess of the £46million that Real Madrid paid for Zinedine Zidane from Juventus in 2001.

Barcelona Line Up £45million Bid For Arsenal Pair?

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La Liga giants Barcelona are set to test the resolve of the board at Arsenal, with a sensational £45million double swoop being mooted to Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas and striker Robin van Persie away from the Emirates Stadium, according to the Daily Star.

Barca, are believed to be upbeat that they can prise long-term target 21-year-old Fabregas along with 25-year-old Dutch International Van Persie from the Premier League club. Having signed Alexander Hleb from Arsenal last summer.

Arsenal’s playmaker Fabregas, who left the Catalan club to join the Premiership side in 2003, has been consistently linked with a move back to Spain, with Real Madrid also heavily linked to the midfielder. Fabregas has always insisted he would like to move back to Spain in the future, with Barcelona the more likely destination due to the players, strong links with the club.

It is now understood that Van Persie is also on the radar of the La Liga pacesetters after a meeting between Blaugrana coach Pep Guardiola and sporting director Txiki Beguiristain.

A Barca source says: “This is not the first time that Barca have looked at Van Persie, but there is a feeling that he has now matured and is ready for the move.”

Although a move is unlikely during this transfer window for the pair, especially with Spanish International Fabregas out injured for the next three-months with a knee ligament injury. A £45million bid for both Fabregas and Van Persie is expected in the summer, with Barca midfielder Yaya Toure likely to be part of any deal that brings the pair to the Nou Camp.

Arsenal To Swoop For Barca Outcast?

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Arsenal are ready to reignite their interest in Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure, younger brother of Gunners defender Kolo, with a £6million offer for the Ivory Coast International being mooted in January, according to The Sun.



Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had been heavily linked with a move for 25-year-old Toure in the summer, but were put off by the £15million price tag put on the combative midfielder by the Catalan club.

However, Toure has fallen out of favour at the Nou Camp under new Barca coach Pep Guardiola and has not featured for Guardiola at all in La Liga this season after a successful debut season for Barcelona in 2007/2008. Where Toure made 26 league appearances for the Spanish club following his transfer from AS Monaco.

Toure has had a trial at the Premier League club, but failed to earn a contract with Wenger’s North London side and was signed by the Blaugrana, where the midfielder has impressed. Toure did also reveal recently the interest by the Gunners in the summer and that he had chose to stay at Barcelona, but with the midfielder not able to break into the Barca first-team this season Toure could see a reunion with brother Kolo at the Emirates Stadium as the perfect solution in January.

Premier League Trio Given Hope In Xavi Chase As Barca Talks Stall Again

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Premier League clubs Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United have been given fresh hope of signing EURO 2008 star Xavi from La Liga giants Barcelona Xavi after talks about a new deal at the Nou Camp for the midfielder stalled again.

28-year-old Xavi is a product of the Barca youth set-up and has been at the Catalan club since 1991, but has not been able to agree a new deal at the Nou Camp, with the Spanish International’s current contract due to run out in 2010.

It is understood that there have been more than 10 meeting between Xavi and the Catalan club, but the two parties are still unable to come to an agreement, with the Spanish International seeking parity with top-earners Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry at the Nou Camp.

Director of football at Barcelona, Txiki Begiristain has admitted that the deal could take weeks or months to conclude and insisted that this type of deal is not easy to close.

Begiristain said: “Xavi is a great player and has some large expectations. In the world of the football it is not easy to close this type of contract because of the length of the deal and the need to keep a salary equilibrium of the staff.

“If it was easy the deal would already be done.”

However, Xavi’s agent Ivan Corretja revealed recently that the talks will not be allowed to go on forever and confirmed the interest in Xavi by clubs from the Premiership.

Corretja, told The Daily Star recently: “We have not been able to solve the situation at Barcelona, despite some months of negotiations. We feel he should be offered a deal which reflects his performances on the pitch.

“Everybody at Barcelona knows that there are some big European clubs interested in Xavi, particularly in England at the moment, and we will not allow this to go on forever.”

With 18 months remaining on Xavi’s current contract at Barcelona, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is monitoring the situation at the Nou Camp, with an offer in the region of £20million being mooted in the January transfer window to bring Xavi to Old Trafford. However, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is also keen to pair Xavi with countryman Cesc Fabregas at the Emirates Stadium, with Liverpool also reportedly interested in bringing the central-midfielder to Anfield.

Valencia Leading Liverpool & Barca In Chase For Brazilian Starlet?

Valencia, are leading the race ahead of Liverpool and La Liga rivals Barcelona to sign Brazilian starlet Keirrison, with Los Che opening talks with the young Brazilian’s management company, according to Sport.

19-year-old Keirrison currently plays for Brazilian club Coritiba and was a pivotal figure in the Coxa Branca winning the Campeanato Serie B last season and has shone in the top-flight of Brazilian football this season.

Keirrison has an incredible strike-rate for Coritiba, with the young forward scoring 54 goals in 100 appearances for the Brazilian side since making his senior debut in 2007 after coming through the youth system at the club.

Sport claim that Valencia are willing to pay £8million to bring Keirrison to the Mestalla and have opened talks with Traffic, who own 80% of the striker’s registration, with Coritiba owning the other 20%.

Keirrison is expected to leave Coritiba in January, with Valencia now appearing to lead Premier League club Liverpool and Barca in the chase for the highly rated youngster.

However, the 20% stake of Keirrison that Coritiba own is believed to be complicating the talks with Valencia, which could leave the door open for a move to the Nou Camp or Anfield.

Spurs Weigh Up January Bid For Barca Prodigy?

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Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly weighing up a bid for Barcelona prodigy Gai Assulin when the transfer window reopens in January after reports in Spain have suggested that the Israeli International is ready to quit the Nou Camp.

17-year-old Assulin is believed to be frustrated at his progression at Barca, with passport problems preventing the Israeli from following Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola from the B Team at the Catalan club into the senior side at the Nou Camp.

Assulin has a £15million buyout clause inserted in the three-year deal he signed this summer with the Blaugrana, but signed the deal on the presumption that he would be part of the Barca senior set-up this season and should be allowed to leave the La Liga giants for considerably less in January.

The attacking-midfielder’s situation at Barcelona has alerted new Spurs boss Harry Redknapp, who is understood to be considering a January move to bring Assulin to White Hart Lane.

Assulin has been at the La Liga side since 2003, with the young starlet coming through the Barca youth set-up to score 10 goals in 28 appearances for Barcelona Atletic last season in helping them win the league title. With his performances attracting the interest of Arsenal, Man United and AC Milan this summer, who could decide to reignite their interest in the midfielder. Assulin has played once for the Barca first-team when he came on a a substitute in the semi-final of the Copa Catalunya against Girona in September 2007.

However, despite the interest of several of Europe’s top sides, Spurs could hold the key, with Assulin sharing the same agent as former team-mate and friend Giovanni Dos Santos, Pini Zahavi, who was behind the transfer of Giovanni to the North London club this summer from Barca.

United To Beat Arsenal, Chelsea & Liverpool To £20million Xavi?

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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson looks set to beat off competition from Premier League rivals Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea to the signature of EURO 2008 star Xavi from La Liga giants Barcelona, according to reports.

28-year-old Xavi is a product of the Barca youth set-up and has been at the Catalan club since 1991, but has not been able to agree a new deal at the Nou Camp, with the Spanish International’s current contract due to run out in 2010.

Contract negotiations at the Nou Camp have stalled between Barca and Xavi, with the midfielder, who was voted player of the tournament at EURO 2008 feeling that the deal on offer at Barcelona does not reflect his importance to the Spanish side or his performances on the pitch.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola declared recently that Xavi would not be sold while he remained in charge at the Nou Camp, but Xavi’s agent Ivan Corretja has revealed that Xavi has not been able to resolve the situation at Barca and that the midfielder is wanted by a host of European clubs, especially in the Premiership.

Corretja, told The Daily Star: “We have not been able to solve the situation at Barcelona, despite some months of negotiations. We feel he should be offered a deal which reflects his performances on the pitch.

“Everybody at Barcelona knows that there are some big European clubs interested in Xavi, particularly in England at the moment, and we will not allow this to go on forever.”

Ferguson is monitoring the situation at the Nou Camp, with an offer in the region of £20million being mooted in the January transfer window to bring Xavi to Old Trafford. However, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is also keen to pair Xavi with countryman Cesc Fabregas at the Emirates Stadium, with Liverpool and Chelsea also reportedly interested in the central-midfielder.

Barca Chief To Sell Xavi Against Guardiola's Wishes To Land Arsenal's Fabregas?

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Barcelona president Joan Laporte is understood to be stepping up his efforts to sign Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, with the Catalan club chief even prepared to sell Spanish International Xavi, despite coach Pep Guardiola insisting last week that Xavi (below) remains at the Nou Camp as long as he remains in charge, according to Spanish radio station Onda.

Recent reports have claimed that EURO 2008 winner Xavi is unhappy at the La Liga side, with talks on a new deal at Barca stalling as he seeks parity with the top earners at the Nou Camp. Which has led to speculation that he could leave Barcelona next summer, with Serie A side Juventus interested in Xavi, who was voted player of the tournament at EURO 2008.

Should Xavi not extend his current contract at Barcelona then Laporte could be forced into selling the Blaugrana midfield general, with the midfielder’s deal running out in 2010 and despite having a buyout clause of £100million, it is understood that the Barcelona vice-captain would be allowed to leave for considerably less.

However, these latest reports that Laporte is willing to lure Fabregas from the Emirates Stadium back to the club he left as a 16-year-old at all costs, including selling Xavi, will anger Guardiola, who sees Xavi as an integral part of the Catalan side. With the former Barca legend declaring last week that Xavi will remain at Barcelona, while he is in charge.

“With me as coach Xavi remains here, that is non-negotiable,” Guardiola said ahead of the La Liga match against Malaga.

21-year-old Fabregas has constantly been linked over the past couple of seasons with Barca’s great rivals Real Madrid, but it is hard to imagine Fabregas ever playing for Los Merengues given his attachment to the Blaugrana, and did reveal recently that “It would be a dream” to return to his boyhood club.

“I would like to try to win more titles here, although next season we'll see,” Fabregas said.

“It would be a dream to return to Barcelona one day.”

With Arsenal struggling in the Premier League and not having won a trophy since the 2005 FA Cup, Fabregas could decide to return to Barcelona next summer if the Gunners have a fourth season in a row without any silverware, but whether Xavi is sold to accommodate the signing of Fabregas remains to be seen. However Laporte could go over Guardiola’s head, with the Barcelona president seeing the capture of Fabregas as the key to holding on to the presidency after narrowly getting re-elected earlier this year.

Six Premier League Clubs Chasing Barcelona Prodigy Assulin?

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No fewer than six Premier League clubs could be in the hunt to sign Barcelona prodigy Gai Assulin when the transfer window reopens in January, with Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Chelsea, Portsmouth, Manchester United and Manchester City along with AC Milan all reportedly interested in the young attacking midfielder.

17-year-old Assulin is believed to be frustrated at his progression at Barca, with passport problems preventing the Israeli International from following Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola from the B Team at the Catalan club into the senior side at the Nou Camp.

Assulin has been at the La Liga side since 2003, with the young starlet coming through the Blaugrana youth set-up to score 10 goals in 28 appearances for Barcelona Atletic last season in helping them win the league title. With his performances attracting the interest of Arsenal, Man United and AC Milan this summer, who could decide to reignite their interest in the midfielder. Assulin has played once for the Barca first-team when he came on a a substitute in the semi-final of the Copa Catalunya against Girona in September 2007.

Spurs along with City, Chelsea and Pompey are all believed to be monitoring the situation at the Nou Camp, with Assulin having the same agent as Giovanni Dos Santos, Pini Zahavi, who was behind the transfer of Mexican Giovanni’s summer move to White Hart Lane.

However, with Assulin considered one of the future stars of Spanish football there will no shortage of suitors for the young Israeli should he become available in January.

Man United To Make £7million January Raid For Real & Barca Target Douglas?

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Premier League Champions Manchester United are planning a £7million January swoop for teenage Brazilian sensation Douglas Costa at Gremio, according to The News of the World.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly ready to bring forward his plans and move for 18-year-old Douglas in January, but is sure to face competition from La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, who have also shown an interest in the talented Brazilian midfielder.

Douglas has been dubbed the ‘New Ronaldinho’ in his homeland after just a handful of appearances for Gremio, with the attacking-midfielder catching the eye of Ferguson as well as the Blaugrana and Los Merengues, while playing in the Junior Copa Santiago tournament in January.

The interest shown by Barca, Real and the Red Devils has led to Gremio quickly handing Douglas a new five-year deal at Olimpico Monumental, which runs until 2013 and inserting a £21million buyout clause for the Brazilian prodigy.

However, Gremio are believed to need money and it is understood that Ferguson could bring Douglas to Old Trafford for as little as £7million as he looks to fine tune a squad going for a hat-trick of Premiership titles.