Catalan giants quietly confident they can arrange a winter deal

The transfer window may have only just slammed shut, but the Spanish press are wasting no time in speculating about the next one.

Barcelona have barely disguised their intention to lure Cesc Fabregas back to his Catalan homeland, and club owner Joan Laporta recently apologised to Arsene Wenger for his aggressive pursuit of their former youth player: “Sorry to bother you, but Cesc is a special case us.” Well, if he’s special, then it is obviously permissible to tap him up.

Most media outlets - The Spoiler included - have made the relatively safe assumption that the Spaniard will make the move next summer, but the folks at Sport are suggesting that the transfer could occur in the January transfer window.

Barcelona technical director Txiki Begiristain has not ruled out making additions to the squad in the January window, and Cesc’s departure will depend largely on Arsenal’s form at that point. Sport say that Barca’s chances will be greatly improved if the Gunners fail to make the Champions League

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Greedy Cameroonian cut out of Ibrahimovic swap deal

For the past few days, Barcelona have been trying their best to tempt over-rated Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic away from Inter Milan, by offering Samuel Eto’o and €40m to the Serie A side.

Spanish paper Marca, however, are now reporting that the Catalan giants are completely fed up with the Cameroonian’s behaviour and extraordinary demands, and so will offer €75m and Alexander Hleb instead.

It looks like Eto’o may now destined to rot on the Nou Camp bench.

We’re going to go and lie down for a bit - that sudden rush of schadenfreude was a little overwhelming…

The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies

Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Barcelona
Spanish paper Sport believe the Catalonians have already signed the over-rated Swede for €40m plus Samuel Eto’o and Alexander Hleb on loan. Joan Laporta and his cronies reportedly reached an agreement at around midnight last night.

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: The rest of the Spanish press are saying the deal is imminent rather than complete, but it looks like it’s happening. Inter won’t be detterred by Eto’o’s greed as Mourinho loves him almost as much as he loves Drogba.

Alvaro Negredo to Tottenham
Determined to sign some sort of Real Madrid striker this summer, Spurs are set to shell out £15m for the 23-year-old. Spanish paper AS say a deal based around a four-year contract will be complete within 48 hours.

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Looks like Darren Bent

Striker no longer wishes to speak to his employer

According to this morning’s Daily Star, Barcelona are ready to accept Manchester City’s £25m offer for Samuel Eto’o, so that they may partially fund a £40m bid for their former employee Cesc Fabregas.

Barca president Joan Laporta supported this theory with an appearance on TVE show 59 Segundos (59 Seconds) last night, where he revealed the extent to which the relationship between the player and the club has deteriorated. Eto’o will apparently no longer answer his phone to the Barca head honcho:

“I’ve called a couple of times, but he did not answer. I do not know if the number has changed, or if his entourage has told him something.

“We have always had a clear and direct relationship. We offered him two more years and we look forward to his response.”

The Spoiler thinks Barcelona should wash their hands of the unprofessional Cameroonian, who appears to be holding them to ransom. In light of these antics, perhaps Manchester City should think twice before meeting his astronomical wage demands…

Frenchman will stay with Die Roten, says Rummenigge

Speaking to German newspaper Bild, Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has insisted that Franck Ribery ain’t going nowhere this summer.

The former European Cup winner quickly dismissed claims that Zinedine Zidane had persuaded the Frenchman to join Real Madrid:

We are very proud to have one of the three best players in the world under contract.

Florentino Perez and his advisor Pedro Jiménez [a member of the Real Madrid board - Ed.] contacted us to ask if we were ready to discuss a transfer. We rejected, as we have no intention to sell Ribery.

Rummenigge remained tight-lipped over the sum being offered for their star midfielder, but revealed three other clubs who have made formal approaches:

Chelsea announced an interest, as did Manchester Utd and Barcelona.

It is not a question of the sum, we want Ribery to remain.

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