The Great Summer Sale in Barcelona

So apparently we are going to revolutionise the squad this summer. I will therefore dedicate this thread to all the rumours, howver unlikely, that our dear sports press are inventing...

So far players leaving the club (supposedly):

GKs:
Valdés: Very unlikely, but the Madrid press invented this one
Pinto: On loan, and will for sure return to his club
Jorquera: Depending on whether Guardiola trusts him then he might be told to leave. Destination: low level Spanish club

Defence:
Zambrotta: Despite his improvement he misses Italy. Most likely destination: AC Milan
Marquéz: A poor season and poorer attitude means that he is likely to be sold, however Milito's injury might mean that he will have to stay. Most likely destination: Atlético Madrid or Italy
Oleguer: Seems to have been completely overlooked this season. Most likely destination: Mid level Spanish team
Thuram: Out of contract and too slow now. Most likely destination: France

Midfield:
Edmílson: Out of contract and has hardly played. Most likely destination: Villarreal or Newcastle
Gudjohnsen: Not really managed to fit in, and still has a good rep in England. Most likely destination: England or France
Deco: A cause of unrest despite being a great player: Most likely destination: Inter, Roma, Juve, Man Utd, Chelsea, Bayern or basically any top level club that has an opening for a very good attacking midfielder

Attack:
Giovani: Over hyped and a bit immature, so he might be sold or sent on loan: Man City for a transfer or maybe Ajax or mid level Spanish team on loan
Henry: Has disappointing and misses his daugther: If sold then probably to England: Newcastle, Man City, but Roma has been mentioned
Eto'o: MundoDeportivo has started this rumour but if it is true then everybody will try to sign him: All major clubs from Chelsea to Inter
Ezquerro: Never plays. Most likely destination: low level Spanish team
Ronaldinho: Still the greatest player in the world, but has suffered from physical and mental problems. Most likely destination: AC Milan, Chelsea or maybe Inter
Now that is a total of 15 players so naturally there are a million rumours going on:

GKs:
Diego Lopéz (Villarreal). Beyond doubt a good keeper, but I doubt we will be trying to reinforce that position

CBs:
Garay (Racing): very highly rated, but very expensive at 20+ million. Not likely due to high price
Coloccini (Depor): A poorer version of Milito, but cheap and experienced. However, he doesn't have Márquez' ability to pass the ball. Likely due to price
Juan (Roma): Great season, but obviousely just an invention by Spanish press
Chivu (Inter): Supposedly Guardiola likes him but Inter is never going to sell.
Piqué (Man Utd): Mainly because he is a canterano, not very likely
Bruno Alves (Porto): New rumour, but 30m clause, means that we cannot really afford him
Mexes (Roma): Another pibedream based on a journalist player too much football manager

Full backs:
Alves (Sevilla): Despite his price, he might be joining since we seem to have been talking to him and the club. The stumbling block remains the insane valuation by Del Nido
Lahm (Bayern): Half of Europe is chasing this fellow, and if Bayern doesn't renew him there might be chance of him joining eventhough it will surely become a bidding war
Mancini (Roma): Apparently he has fallen out with Roma, and Spanish press regards him as Cafú reborn. I see him as a winger, so, unlikely.

DMs:
Poulsen (Sevilla): 10m clause and very good rep in Spain. Likely ii Poulsen is willing, but it would piss off Sevilla.
Mascherano (Liverpool). Depending on whether he comes on the market then we will bid. But I think he will end up in Italy. Unlikely

CMs:
Keita (Sevilla). Sevilla's best player this year, and hugely expensive. Probably more a case of the press wanting TWO Tourés. Unlikely
Cesc (Arsenal). Every summer the same story. Great player but too expensive. Unlikely
Xabi Alonso (Liverpool): If he is on the market we will probably bid, but not enough. Unlikely

AMs:
VdV (HSV). Deco replacement with goal. Should be relatively cheap. Likely
Diego (Bremen). Diego would fit in perfectly, but is probably staying in Bremen. Unlikely
Hleb (Arsenal): Not enough goal but very good player. However he is Inter bound

Wingers:
Capel (Sevilla) 12m clause and very good this season. I would love to see him join but again it would piss off Sevilla so unlikely
Guardado (Depor). Very promising start but hampered by injuries. Depor is not financially strong so it might be possible.
Silva (Valencia) Poor season but massive talent. He is the jewel of Valencia so I think it is unlikely they will sell.

Strikers:
Drogba (Chelsea) Wants to leave and a great player. However his age and his playing style count against him, plus the fact that he is probably heading to Italy. Unlikely
Benzema (Lyon). The press wet dream. Massive talent, but would need guaranteed first team football and is massively expensive. Unlikely
Milito (Zaragoza). If Zaragoza goes down then he is on the market, but I am not sure if he is good enough to be honest. Unlikely
Guïza (Mallorca). The big surprise this year in Spain with a tonne of goals. But probably just a one season wonder. Unlikely (hopefully)
Villa (Valencia): Villa, Villa, Villa.. but his is probably leaving for Real. Unlikely
Adebayor (Arsenal): Very strange rumour this one. Bored Journos.. Never going to happen
Gomez (Stuttgart): Pops up every so often. I would like to see him join, but I don't think we are really serious about him. Unlikely
Huntelaar (Ajax): Cruyff is weaving is evil spell again and we could end up with RVN clone. Likely




Now feel free to add Barcelona rumours and please rate them..

Ezquerro back to atletico bilbao

The worrying thing is that there is nothing concrete so far, apart from Dani Alves, though that has arguably the biggest stumbling block of any transfer in the form of Del Nido. And perhaps VDV, that's definitely a gettable player, no matter who else is interested.

I agree.. usually we have these players tied up before the transfer circus starts. But I think that Guardiola already has made Laporta and Txiki aware of his signings..

I am really worried about Eto'o. He is the one player from that list I DON'T want to leave!!!

And who is supposed to replace him??? There isn't anybody out there, realistically, that is as good.

Agree, if Guardiola can calm him down and gain his trust, then there is no better striker for the club. Trying to bring Guiza to be the next Etoo (he also came from Mallorca) is not exactly something I'm too keen on.

One of the basic "rules" of Guardiola's project (according to SPORT's article a month ago) was that he wanted more control and co-ordination over transfers, esp. the specific players being brought in. So let's see how that works...it'll basically be a more English way of doing things.

Guïza is decent by there is no way that he is a top level player. IMO there is only Drogba that could come in at that level, but are we ready to sign another 30 year old??

If we can get a good player for the left then I don't mind Bojan and Henry being the backups. The risk of course is injury, but surely Etoo can't suffer a 3rd consecutive long term injury this season?

kas wrote:If we can get a good player for the left then I don't mind Bojan and Henry being the backups. The risk of course is injury, but surely Etoo can't suffer a 3rd consecutive long term injury this season?

Shouldn't happen, and hopefully Guardiola will improve the players' fitness levels avoiding so many muscle injuries.

My ideal attack for next season would be:

--Benzema/Silva-- Eto'o -- Messi

with a back up of:

Iniesta -- Bojan -- ?? / Giovani

I want at least Giuly-like player, someone who (like you said elsewhere) opens up the field and can play right along the touchline. Definitely would be more effective than Giovani, who currently lacks the footballing intelligence or physical strength to make an impact.

TM wrote:Ezquerro back to atletico bilbao

I don't think that even they'd want him back.

Olé wrote:

TM wrote:Ezquerro back to atletico bilbao

I don't think that even they'd want him back.

Who - Atletico, or Bilbao?

kas wrote:

Olé wrote:

TM wrote:Ezquerro back to atletico bilbao

I don't think that even they'd want him back.

Who - Atletico, or Bilbao?

kas wrote:I want at least Giuly-like player, someone who (like you said elsewhere) opens up the field and can play right along the touchline. Definitely would be more effective than Giovani, who currently lacks the footballing intelligence or physical strength to make an impact.

Capel would be an obvious signing.. Good wingers are really that common anymore. Maybe Pedro Leon would be a good backup.

Otherwise we would have to look abroad. Maybe a cheeky bid for Malouda?

Or a trade involving cash and Deco for Ribéry??

Hleb (Arsenal) for the midfield. Not very likely since he doesn't score too much and Inter has got him tied up.

Ribery won't leave...and Malouda is not a very exciting signing tbh, after his no-show at Chelsea. Plus he's 27-28.

I personally don't mind Mancini of Roma. Will cost $$$$ though.

kas wrote:Ribery won't leave...and Malouda is not a very exciting signing tbh, after his no-show at Chelsea. Plus he's 27-28.

I personally don't mind Mancini of Roma. Will cost $$$$ though.

What about Joe Cole???

Very unlikely he leaves, he's a had a v good season at Chelsea more creative freedom and all.

If you guys let Eto'o go (hopefully you do), then you have morons running your club.

We need a real winger and not mediapuntas playing on flanks like Joe Cole and Silva. Out of that list I'd have Capel but surely there is someone better and more experienced out there!.

A proper attacking fullback could alleviate the need for wingers.. but I agree it would be nice with someone who knows how to play there.

Oleguerisntthatbad wrote:A proper attacking fullback could alleviate the need for wingers.. but I agree it would be nice with someone who knows how to play there.

We have to sign one even if he's not a starter.

what about Rodrigo Palacio?

Thats not my name wrote:what about Rodrigo Palacio?

That's true, we have also been linked to him, but I think he is more a "mediapunta" or mobile striker. I don't think he could play the role as winger.

Also I am not convinced he is good enough to be honest

Oleguerisntthatbad wrote:

kas wrote:Ribery won't leave...and Malouda is not a very exciting signing tbh, after his no-show at Chelsea. Plus he's 27-28.

I personally don't mind Mancini of Roma. Will cost $$$$ though.

What about Joe Cole???

I personally am a huge fan of Joe Cole, and he can play as a 10 as well. But he'd be expensive, and is another small player.

Oleguerisntthatbad wrote:Midfield:
Edmílson: Out of contract and has hardly played. Most likely destination: Villarreal or Newcastle

Villarreal it is then.

Kimbo wrote:

Oleguerisntthatbad wrote:Midfield:
Edmílson: Out of contract and has hardly played. Most likely destination: Villarreal or Newcastle

Villarreal it is then.

Are you guys not interested any longer? If you can keep him fit, he is actually a very good DM with excellent passing.

I think Barca are deluding themselves if they expect to get rid of 10+ players and being able to replace all of those players

Oleguerisntthatbad wrote:

Kimbo wrote:

Oleguerisntthatbad wrote:Midfield:
Edmílson: Out of contract and has hardly played. Most likely destination: Villarreal or Newcastle

Villarreal it is then.

Are you guys not interested any longer? If you can keep him fit, he is actually a very good DM with excellent passing.

I'm sure Allardyce might have been, but he's a goner. We've not been linked since he left.

Calidad wrote:I think Barca are deluding themselves if they expect to get rid of 10+ players and being able to replace all of those players

I think part of their idea is to promote Gai Asulin and Thiago Alcantara, but I'm firmly against the idea of adding two more 16 year olds to the first team squad. Our cantera is good, but so much pressure on them is ridiculous. Then again, we have to try and balance it so they aren't tempted by the English big 4.

Could you see Barca trying to sign Sergio Aguero?

Thats not my name wrote:Could you see Barca trying to sign Sergio Aguero?

Never going to happen this summer