Transfer round-up Barca eye Rooney-Villa swap A round-up of the day’s Spanish transfer gossip, as Barcelona reportedly offer David Villa plus cash for Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney. According to Sport, Barcelona are considering offering €25m plus David Villa to bring Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney to the Camp Nou. It is widely expected Villa will leave the Catalans this summer, with sources close to the Barca board having indicated that Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Liverpool have all asked about the player in recent weeks. However, the €12m asking price appears to have put them off and La Blaugrana are believed to be weighing up whether to offer the 31-year-old plus cash to land Rooney from United. Barca are waiting to hear the outcome of a meeting between United boss David Moyes and the former Everton man to determine his future before making any move, with the relationship between the pair understood to be strained after their time together at Goodison Park. Rooney’s €14m-a-year salary may prove a stumbling block despite the saving on Villa’s wages, which next year are estimated to be around €10m. Nonetheless, Barcelona President Sandro Rosell could be prepared to give the green light to the move as the England international has previously stated his admiration for Barcelona. Xabi Alonso continues to neglect Real Madrid’s offer of a new contract as his wish is to go on a free transfer next year. According to El Economista, in recent weeks Los Blancos have again asked the Spanish international his future intentions and have been met with the same response of ‘patience’ from the player. The same publication maintained at the beginning of this year that the 31-year-old had told the club he had no intention of extending his existing agreement, instead preferring to wait and see what his physical fitness was like at the start of 2014 when he could be persuaded to remain at the Santiago Bernabeu another season. However, a recent groin operation that forced him to miss the Confederations Cup in Brazil is believed to have convinced him he is in the final stretch of his career, with Xabi himself dreaming of a return to England where he spent five successful years at Liverpool. Although Los Blancos have always treated Xabi fairly, with his wages consistently having been increased by President Florentino Perez, it will still be a difficult issue to resolve if there is to be a happy ending for both parties. Either way, the relationship between both club and player continues to remain excellent. Premier League outfits West Ham United and Cardiff City are both in the hunt for striker Javier Saviola, reports Sport. Saviola’s contract with Malaga ended on June 30 and the Argentine international is now ready to listen to offers, which have not been long in coming. Both the Hammers and the recently-promoted Welsh club are understood to be considering bids for the well-travelled player, who numbers River Plate, Barcelona, Monaco, Sevilla, Real Madrid and Benfica among his former clubs. It is understood Saviola is open to the idea of trying his luck in England but there has also been talk of possible interest from Celta Vigo, Espanyol and former club River Plate. Sao Paulo are understood to be willing to pay around €7m to take Valencia striker Jonas back to Brazil. According to newspaper Lance the Brazilians have already met Jonas for talks in a bid to link him up with former Sevilla man Luis Fabiano at the Morumbi stadium, although the player is believed to be happy at Valencia. However, with the 2014 World Cup in Brazil around the corner Jonas considers his chances of making Luiz Felipe Scolari’s squad would be improved if he was plying his trade in his native country. With a contract at Mestalla until June 2015, Jonas is considered one of the key men at Valencia, whom he joined from Gremio at the beginning of 2011, and the club would be reluctant to let him go. Even so, Sao Paulo are aware Valencia have financial difficulties and failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League, meaning they might be receptive to a decent offer for the 29-year-old. Jonas is currently on holiday in Brazil awaiting the birth of his first child and has asked his club for a few extra days off so he can spend the maximum time possible with his new family. Real Sociedad are eyeing Fiorentina striker Haris Seferovic, reports Marca. The Swiss international, 21, is of Bosnian descent and has made just eight Serie A appearances for La Viola since signing from Grasshoppers in January 2010, being loaned out to Neuchatel Xamax, Lecce and Novara over the past two seasons. Seferovic won the 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup with Switzerland in Nigeria and was leading goalscorer in the competition, with La Real boss Jagoba Arrasate hoping tie up a deal with the Italians this week. Arrasate is seeking to strengthen his squad prior to the club’s forthcoming Champions League campaign and defender Jose Angel is also on his list. Left-back Angel spent last season on loan with the Basques from Roma but was granted few first team opportunities due to the form of Alberto de la Bella. This term, however, he is likely to get more of a chance to stake a claim with the Txuri-urdin involved in three competitions, and Arrasate would like him to return to Anoeta. Real Betis are reportedly a preferred option for Barcelona’s Bojan Krkic this summer, ahead of a number of other clubs. The 22-year-old striker is expected to be sent out on loan once more this transfer window, after two difficult years spent in Serie A. Whilst a number of clubs with greater financial budgets are looking at the forward, Marca understand that Betis have an advantage. Despite the likelihood that the Andalucians will struggle to cover his current €3m salary, it is reported that Bojan is open to the idea of moving down to Seville, over and above other options apparently on the table. PSV, Ajax, Parma and Real Sociedad are all also listed as keeping tabs on the youngster this summer, whilst Atletico Madrid and Malaga have previously been linked too. Bojan’s father, Bojan Krkic Snr, is also a close friend of Betis sporting director Vlada Stosic. Real Betis are showing interest in taking Getafe striker Miku to the Benito Villamarin, according to Marca. The Venezuelan international spent last season on loan in Scotland with Glasgow Celtic after falling out with Getafe President Angel Torres. However, he has now returned to the Coliseum Alfonso Perez after an unsuccessful stint at Parkhead, during which he made just 11 League appearances with two goals, and Betis boss Pepe Mel is weighing up a bid for the player. It is believed El Geta are asking around €3m for the 27-year-old, who has scored 24 games in 87 La Liga games for the Madrid club, although it is doubtful whether any team would be prepared to pay that amount, including Betis. Mel is understood to have asked about Miku’s situation before the start of last season and is ready to make a fresh enquiry as he seeks to strengthen his strike force for his team’s assault on the Europa League next term. Real Madrid B team striker Jese’s future at the club is in doubt after he revealed some uncertainty over his contract. The youngster is hot property at the moment after starring for Spain in the recent Under-20 World Cup, and still has a year left on his existing agreement at the Santiago Bernabeu. Nonetheless, he told Marca that the club has not been in contact with him over a new deal. “I don’t know what the club wants, whether they want me to renew, so I suppose I’m not clear what I am going to be doing,” he admitted. It is not the first time Jese, who surpassed Emilio Butragueno’s record number of goals for the Madrid second-string last term, has harboured doubts about where his career is heading. “I’m not clear what I’ll do and I’m not going to lie about it,” he was recently quoted as saying. “I’m relaxed because I had a good season and a good Under-20 World Cup, and I insist I’m very, very relaxed.” The Las Palmas-born player is understood to have the support of President Florentino Perez but new boss Carlo Ancelotti remains the key to the 20-year-old’s future.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Jul 2013 06:18:55 +0000
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