FC Barcelona Want Gareth Bale

FC Barcelona want Gareth Bale next year in £25m deal - report


Barcelona are reportedly ready to launch a bid for Tottenham winger Gareth Bale - but will only offer a deal worth a maximum £25million.

Bale has been on Barca's radar for some time and coach Pep Guardiola has made signing a new left-sided player a priority for 2012.

Guardiola has sent scouts to watch Bale play for Spurs on more than one occasion and according to the Daily Mirror, the Spaniard has made him his number one transfer target for next summer.

The Wales international, who is also believed to be on Real Madrid's radar, last month admitted that he would be open to a move to Spain in the future, although he insisted he was happy at White Hart Lane right now.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp believes only the likes of Barca, Madrid and Manchester City would be able to sign the "unstoppable" 22-year-old, but he is likely to try and prevent a move happening at the end of the season.

Tottenham value Bale at around £40million but that price tag does not appear to have deterred some of Europe's elite from showing interest, with Italian giants AC Milan and rivals Inter also thought to be keen on the former Southampton player, along with Chelsea.

But according to Friday's report, Barcelona will offer just £25m for Bale and are also preparing a cash-plus-player deal worth £20m plus several of the club's youngsters.

The reigning Spanish and European champions will try to raise extra transfer funds by offloading full-back Maxwell and midfielder Seydou Keita next year.

Isaac Cuenca Is Out Of Contract

Barcelona winger Isaac Cuenca, who has been linked with Arsenal and Manchester United, is reportedly close to agreeing a new contract.

Arsenal and United, along with Chelsea, have shown interest in the 20-year-old in recent weeks after it emerged he had rejected a new deal at Camp Nou.

The Spain Under-21 international is out of contract at the end of the season and has also been linked with a move to rivals Real Madrid.

But according to Sky Sports, Cuenca is ready to commit his future to the reigning Spanish and European champions, with a club source quoted as saying: "We are confident and talks are at an advanced stage."

Cuenca has been wanting a two-year deal with significantly improved terms as a reward for coming through the ranks at the club.

Arsenal’s move for Henry foolhardy

 Let's not skirt around this: Arsenal's move for Thierry Henry is desperately short-sighted and ultimately foolhardy.

It has been shown on countless occasions that you should never go backwards in football, and Arsene Wenger has once again been caught dealing in sentimentality rather than pragmatism.

Henry's loan move to Arsenal may represent astute PR work from Arsenal, but as a footballing move it is pretty absurd.

The Frenchman clearly lost his edge a few years ago, and even when he left Arsenal for Barcelona back in 2007 he was not the same player he was before.

There is a real danger that his legacy at the club could be tarnished if he has a less than distinguished spell second time around, and it may prove to be a stint which he comes to regret.

Henry has been living the celebrity lifestyle in America, and in the time that he has been away from the club, Robin van Persie has taken up the mantle of being the most prized asset.

Wenger could be faced with real problems if Henry is clamouring for a starting spot in attack, and as the club's all-time leading goalscorer, it would be understandable if he does.

But to tinker with the formation and style of play currently in place would be incredibly short-sighted and could adversely affect van Persie's performances.

The simple fact is that the current Arsenal captain has thrived since he became the main man at the club, and Henry is going to represent a threat to that status given his stature.

A conflict between van Persie and Henry on egotistical grounds would be a disaster for Arsenal, and there is very little good that can come of bringing back a legend who is well past his sell by date.

I certainly would not want to rely upon Henry to produce the goods away from home in the tricky winter months given how out of touch he has been with the Premier League over the last few years, and he would now be next in line if van Persie were to get injured.

Arsenal desperately need a long-term back up for van Persie, and Wenger should not be concentrating his efforts on securing a loan move for a former start.

Henry has lost a yard of pace and a great deal of his hunger and edge since he was in his pomp at Arsenal, and the club should be focusing all their attention on finding a second striker for beyond a brief loan spell.

Lukas Podolski would represent a much better signing for the Gunners, and the German would not only be a good acquisition in the short term, but a prudent investment in the long term.

Jens Lehmann was left embarrassed after a poor return to Arsenal, and Sol Campbell hardly distinguished himself in a similar comeback; it would be a great shame if the same happens with Henry.

One thing is for sure: you would not catch Sir Alex Ferguson dragging a former star back from America as a short-term fix.

Friday's Transfer Round-up

Pato to Chelsea FC? Modric to Man Utd? Romeu to FC Barcelona? Friday's transfer round-up

Friday's round up of the top transfer stories from the past 24 hours...

- Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric has claimed he is "almost 100%" certain that he will still be at Spurs when the January transfer window closes, but admits "everything is possible" as he continues to be linked with Chelsea and Manchester United.

- Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City have been put on alert after AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato hinted at a bust-up with coach Massimiliano Allegri.

- But Pato is also wanted by Paris Saint-Germain, according to his agent.

- The agent of Oriol Romeu has told Marca that the Chelsea midfielder could return to Barcelona in eighteen months time.

- Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists he will not buy "on a whim" as he continues to be linked with a move for Wesley Sneijder.

- Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has opened the door for Andy Carroll to make a sensational return to the club, just twelve months after selling him to Liverpool in a £35million deal.

- Liverpool are keen on signing Swansea midfielder Joe Allen, according to Caughtoffside.com.

- The agent of Rasmus Elm has denied that the AZ Alkmaar midfielder has already agreed to join Manchester United next year.

- Chelsea defender Alex has revealed that he is keen on a return to Santos.