Former Barca hero Ronald Koeman, now manager of PSV Eindhoven talked to the Barca board about the transfer of Argentine international Javier Saviola.


Barça wants €6 mill. for the pacey striker, whose nickname is the "Rabbit". This is a bargain-basement price, but Saviola has no place in the current Barca squad and FC Barcelona is very keen to off-load the former U20 World Champion as soon as possible. Saviola is still under contract at Barcelona until June 2007.


Even Portsmouth is paying €12 mill. for PSV´s Peruvian striker Jefferson Farfan, but Koeman believes the price tag on Saviola is too high and wants to negotiate the reduced fee again within the week. However, even though a transfer deal between the Clubs could be agreed, PSV would have to conclude an agreement with Saviola, who on several occasions has made it clear that his priority is to continue to play in La Primera Liga. Also Saviola´s huge wage demands (Barca pays about €3 mill. net per year) are a big obstacle to overcome for the Dutch Champions.


So far, the best offers for Javier Saviola have been made by two foreign clubs, Greek giants, Panathinaikos and English Premiership Club, Arsenal. A transfer within Spain to Atletico Madrid would only become reality when Fernando Torres decides to leave Madrid.