Villarreal striker and former Manchester United player Diego Forlan believes Cristiano Ronaldo would accept a good offer to join FC Barcelona.


Portuguese international Cristiano Ronaldo is currently discussing a new contract with Manchester United but Forlan believes that his former team-mate Ronaldo is seeing himself playing in la Liga and the youngster would not hesitate to accept a good offer.


Forlan told Catalan football paper SPORT:

I believe if Barca make him a good offer, there's little doubt he will accept it, because Spanish football has great quality and this Liga is the best in the world.
Barca and Real both are great teams that are now fighting to take control of him. But he sees himself joining a Spanish team.

Villarreal´s coach Manuel Pellegrini wants Barcelona striker Javier Saviola to enforce his attacking line during the winter transfer period.
With Turkish International Nihat and Antonio Guayre out for the long term, Pellegrini is looking for a cover and a player to challenge Diego Forlan and Jose Mari. Villarreal coach Pellegrini explained:

Saviola's situation, not being able to play, is bad for football. I don't know the reasons why he isn't playing for Barcelona, but he is a player of great quality who would succeed anywhere he goes.

Villarreal is looking for a loan deal and this would suit als Javier Saviola, who will negotiate a Bosman free transfer in the summer. saviola only plays a minor part in Frank Rijkaards plans and will only be selected as cover for injured players or in the Copa del Rey competition.

Chelsea and Iceland international Eidur Gudjohnsen is aparently hours away from joining FC Barcelona.


The Clubs seem to have agreed on a transfer fee of €12 mill. with only the mode of payment to be sorted out between Chelsea and Barcelona, before the Iceland international can sign his new 3-years contract (with an additional 1-year option) for Barca. Latest reports suggest that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho agreed to let Gudjohnsen go to Barcelona and opposed a move to Premiership rivals Manchester United.


A minor difference over payment has to be sorted out between Chelsea and Barcelona. Chelsea want to receive half of the transfer fee immediately, while the remaining half should be paid within 12 months. FC Barcelona is keen to stretch the payments in four annual instalments of € 3 mill. each year.


The conclusion of the transfer should be announced any time now.


With Gudjohnsen, Barca coach Frank Rijkaard will get his first choice player who he believes to be the perfect replacement for Swedish international Henrik Larsson. With the signing of Chelsea forward Gudjohnsen, Barca will end all speculation about their the interest in Villarreal and former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan who was the preferred choice of Barca´s technical director Txiki Begiristain.


Eidur Gudjohnsen became surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, once Chelsea signed Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko from AC Milan for € 45 mill. but the 27-year-old Icelandic international might have difficulties in finding a place in Barca´s starting line-up facing a tough competition in star players like Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o, Lionel Messia and Ludovic Giuly.

At present, Gudjohnsen from Chelsea is leading the race to replace Henrik Larsson but the doors are still not closed for Diego Forlán.


It is rumoured that after negotiations with Chelsea stalled in a disagreement about the transfer fee, further transfer talks are to be held next week, in London.


FC Barcelona had to activate Plan B, after the negotiations with Villarreal proved unsuccessful but Barca officials still insist that the clubs are working together on a solution over the Forlán transfer. According to official sources at Barca, Chelsea´s Icelandic international Gudjohnsen is currently much better positioned than the Uruguayan forward Forlan from Villareal to play next season at Camp Nou. FC Barcelona are still monitoring other possible alternatives to replace Larsson.


Villarreal's refusal to let Diego Forlán join Barca for less than the release clause of €23 Mill. made it necessary to activate Barca´s Plan B, which is to go for Frank Rijkaards favourite choice, Eidur Gudjohnsen. FC Barcelona does not want to pay more than €10 Mill. on the transfer fee to Chelsea, but the Londoners are not willing to lower the price. It is rumoured that a rival offer from Manchester United of about €13 Mill. had been tabled at Stamford Bridge. Manchester United is keen to replace Ruud Van Nistelrooy with Eidur Gudjohnsen from Chelsea.

Diego Forlán has another Spanish offer from Valencia and sport director Amedeo Carboni is planning to meet Forlán´s agent in Barcelona on Tuesday.

FC Barcelona Tranfer Rumours: Today´s Newspaper Headlines


07/06/2006 - EL MUNDO DEPORTIVO and SPORT headlines concerning transfer rumours at FC Barcelona:


EL MUNDO DEPORTIVO


Waiting
Rijkaard and Txiki meeting to analyse all possibitities to substitute Larsson


Gudjohnsen, closer and closer

Only small differences between the player and Barça, who has to negotiate with Chelsea to agree a fee


Gabri signs 3-years with Ten Cate´s Ajax
Player and his agent, Josep Maria Orobitg, conclude contract in Amsterdam yesterday


Saviola likes to play for Villarreal

Txiki is not aware of any interest from the "Submarines" for the Argentinian forward


Txiki expects "a positive responds" from Neeskens
Confirmation before the start of world cup


SPORT


Kuijt will leave Feyenoord

SPORT is aware since yesterday that one of the alternatives to substitute Larsson is Kuijt, who will not go back to Holland


Villarreal does not accept any pressures for Forlán
Villarreal expects Barca to contact them directly before they finalize any personal terms with the Uruguyan


Saviola has not clear future yet

Txiki confirms that surely "after the world cup the situation will be re-valued. It is necessary to wait for a satisfying agreement"


Gabri signs for Ajax

The midfielder of Sallent starts his first professional adventure away from Camp Nou