The Fans Blog4

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that if Barcelona in the end wouldn't be able to sign Shakhtar Donetsk defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22) or Arsenal midfielder and Spain international Cesc Fabregas (22), Barcelona could put an end to the transfer summer and postpone the transfrs until the January transfer window next year.

At the end of the year, the situation of both players could have changed and Barcelona could then try again for Cesc and Chygrynskiy, or move for other players who could strengthen the squad for the second half of the season and especially for the months of January and February when Barcelona players Touré and Keita will leave for the Africa cup.


Read more:
Guardiola Only Wants "Cracks"
Last-minute attempt for Chygrynskiy coming up
Barcelona could sign no more players

Catalan paper Sport is reporting that FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola insists that the team only try to acquire top quality players to fill out its roster and that it not sign mid-level bench-warmers.

In the case that no such star players are available for transfer, the former Barca captain and youth product would prefer to rely on the team's current crop of development players rather than try to incorporate older mediocre substitutes.

In line with this thinking, Sport claims that Guardiola has reported to club management that the only two players he is interested in adding to his team are Catalan midfielder Cesc Fabregas and Ukranian defender Dmytrio Chygrynskiy. However, in recent weeks it has become increasingly less likely that either player will don the blue and red this coming season.

In fact, the chances of Chygrynskiy joining Barcelona have already taken a huge hit, as the star defender has apeared for Shaktar Donetsk in the Champions League and thus cannot play in the tournament for Barcelona this year. Cesc may follow suit shortly, as he will likely take the field for Arsenal in their upcoming match against Celtic later today. If he does, and if Sport is correct as to Guardiola's intentions, then the transfer season may be effectively over for Barcelona.

Read More:
Barcelona Could Sign No More Players

Speaking to journalists yesterday, Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain made an analysis of the transfer market events and didn't exclude that Barcelona won't signs any more players this summer:

"We continue to work to make the best squad possible. We had selected some names with the coaching staff and we're fighting to sign them.

Sometimes it's possible and sometimes it's not. The transfer of Cesc is very complicated and the transfer of Chigrinsky even more. And when we're then looking at alternative options, those have to be better than what we have and have to convince all of us, especially the coaching staff. And the players that we want aren't cheap because they have to be really good.

I don't know if we have a small squad. That depends on how we value the youth players. If we think they're not worth a lot, then we have a small squad. We have to believe in the players we have now. If some players aren't coming, that's also because the youth players are doing so well. We're certainly not going to pay silly prices. We will see what will happen in the next two weeks."

Read more:
Guardiola stoical about summer transfers
Last-minute attempt for Chygrynskiy coming up
Guardiola ends Cesc speculation

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona has not yet given up on Shakhtar Donetsk defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22).

The player, who would also still hope to join Barcelona, would certainly stay with Shakhtar until 29 August, when the Ukrainian club will inaugurate their new stadium.

Barcelona would make a last attempt to sign Chygrynskiy in the margin of the European super cup game between Barcelona and Shakhtar on Friday 28 August. The club will most probably again propose Shakhtar to sign Chygrynskiy on loan with the option of buying him next summer.

Read more:
Shakhtar rejects two new offers for Chygrynskiy
Chygrynskiy accepts that he will not leave


Watch a video of Chygrynskiy here:

Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona (read more here), Shakhtar Donetsk defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22) is quoted by Catalan sports paper Sport as saying at a press conference in Ukraine that he has no other choice than to accept his club's decision to not let him go:

"Of course I would have liked to join Barça. Which player in the world wouldn't want that? I know there have been several rounds of talks and that a lot of money has been offered.

But in the end my club didn't accept the offer and there's nothing I can do about that. Those are decisions made by the president and I have to accept them. The only thing I can do now is to focus on my team. After the Champions League elimination we have to come back even stronger."

Madrid sports tabloid As meanwhile claims that Shakhtar Donetsk's last asking price for Chygrynskiy was 23 million euro° plus incentives, a sum Barcelona wasn't willing to pay which made an end to the negotiations.

Read more:
Shakhtar rejects two new offers for Chygrynskiy
Mascherano, Chygrynskiy, Mata: Two out of three
Agent tells Barcelona to forget about Chygrynskiy

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona has yesterday made two new bids for Shakhtar Donetsk defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22).

Barcelona would first have offered Shakhtar a fixed transfer fee of 17 million euro plus around 8 million euro in variables°. Barcelona later also proposed to sign Chygrynskiy on loan for one season with an option to buy the defender next year. With the Ukrainian club rejecting all offers, Barcelona would have started to accept that Chygrynskiy won't join this summer.

Read more:
Agent tells Barcelona to forget about Chygrynskiy
Txiki on Cesc, Mascherano and Chygrynskiy

Asked about the rumours linking Shakhtar Donetsk defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), Dmitri Seluk, agent of Shakhtar Donetsk defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chyhrynskiy said in an interview with Catalan radio station Ona FM that he doesn't believe Shakhtar want to sell:

"At this moment it's better that they forget about Chygrynskiy and focus on other players they could sign. It's not a matter of time, so they better move on. I don't think the presidents of Barça will speak with each other. It's better that they forget about the player because Shakhtar doesn't want to sell now."

The radio station claims, based upon Shakhtar sources, that Chygrynskiy has stopped talking about Barcelona for three weeks and that he might have received a pay rise.

Read more:
Txiki on Cesc, Mascherano and Chygrynskiy
Chygrynskiy only option as centre-back
Final 22 million offer for Chygrynskiy rejected

Speaking to the club's official media, Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain commented on some names that have been linked with a move to Barcelona.


Cesc
"It depends on what you are willing to spend. If we will invest a lot of money, he could come. But we don't know how big the investment should be since we didn't yet ask Arsenal about him. If the asking price would be exaggerated, we won't try to sign him."

Mascherano
"I don't like to exclude any of the players we like and that we believe can improve our squad."

Chygrynskiy
"He is a very good option, but at the right price. We have made an attempt and we will continue to try, but only if we consider the price to be reasonable, otherwise we won't do it."

Youth players
"We have the fortune that our youth policy is working so well. Muniesa, Fontás, Jonathan... They are all having a great pre-season. They are once again showing how extraordinary the youth structure is. Besides, it is easier for homegrown players to adapt to the way of playing than it is for those who come from elsewhere. We should take advantage of that. I think they are more than likely to play a role."

Read more:
Intensified talks with Cesc could lead to bid
Laporta on Cesc, Messi and Ibrahimovic
Chygrynskiy only option as centre-back

Barcelona sports vice president Rafael Yuste gave an interview to Catalan sports paper Sport.





Which transfer operation was your debut?
The sale of Ronaldinho. That's where I learnt that a football player always ends up playing where he wants to play. For us, the best option was Manchester City, but he wanted to go to Milan and he ended up in Milan.

What do you think of this world of football?
Well... Complicated. It's about persons, so there's a human factor you should be able to manage. And then you have the clubs, coaches, intermediaries, press... It's very complicated.

You had signed Villa?
The boy wanted to come. We went to Madrid to close the operation with Valencia but at the last minute they asked an exaggerated sum of money that was above our budget. I felt sad for Villa that it didn't go through.

So then you went after Ibrahimovic...
He was the dream of Guardiola. And ours, but it always seemed something far, impossible, until we decided to actually try it.

That suddenly crossed your mind...
I've always been very persistent and I think nothing is impossible. I thought there was a possibility if we could convince Eto'o. We had one advantage: we knew that the dream of Ibra was to play at Barça.

And so you went to Milan...
That's where we already had a series of circumstances that helped us. Moratti was in Milan, we could land at the airport that same afternoon when we returned from Ukraine and the president negotiated very well. You can see the result - Ibra seemed impossible but we signed him.

Let's see if the same happens with Ribéry...
No, Bayern doesn't want to sell him. The day they put him on the market, we'll be the first to be informed.

What about Mascherano, Chygrynskiy, Cesc...?
We know that the priorities of Pep are a centre-back and a midfielder. We'll make a decision when the moment is there. To uptouch a Picasso is very difficult.

Read more:
Laporta on Cesc, Messi and Ibrahimovic
Assistant coach wants one or two more transfers

Both main Catalan sports papers claim that Shakhtar Donetsk defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22) is the main transfer target of Barcelona at this moment.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona wanted to launch a final offensive for the defender yesterday, but decided to postpone everything one day because of Shakhtar's elimination in the Champions league on Wednesday.

Based upon reports in the Ukrainian press, the paper claims that Shakhtar manager Mircea Lucescu asked yesterday for a meeting with his club's sports director and president to discuss the situation after the elimination. Lucescu would want Chygrynskiy to leave and could advise his president to lower the asking price. Barcelona hopes that a previous offer of 18 million euro° will now be accepted.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola is absolutely crazy about Chygrynskiy and sees him as the only option to strenghten the centre-back position. Barcelona could even accept that the Ukrainian plays the European Super Cup with Shaktar on 28 August before joining Barcelona. Shaktar is reported to be asking at this moment 25 million euro°, while Barcelona would want to pay a maximum of 20 million euro°.

Read more:
Mascherano, Chygrynskiy, Mata: Two out of three
Price Chygrynskiy could drop to 10 million

Catalan sports paper Sport that Barcelona has decided to sign two more players during the current transfer window.

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain, Barcelona director of football Raul Sanllehí and Barcelona sports vice-president Rafael Yuste would have held a meeting yesterday morning in the Four Seasons hotel in Seattle to discuss the further transfer negotiations.

Three names would have been on table: Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25), Shakhtar Donetsk defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22) and Valencia left wing attacker and Spanish international Juan Mata (21) .

With Shakhtar having been eliminated in the Champions League yesterday, Chygrynskiy seems at this moment the most likely transfer, although Barcelona would only want to pay a maximum of 15 million euro. Mascherano would still be an option. Barcelona officials reportedly think there's still a chance to sign the Argentinian despite the current asking price of 50 million euro. Regarding Mata, Barcelona is waiting for the outcome of the renewal talks planned between the player and his club tomorrow.

Read more:
Mata could buy his freedom
Price Chygrynskiy could drop to 10 million
Mascherano is in Barcelona

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that the transfer of Shakhtar Donetsk defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22) could become more likely if Shakhtar gets eliminated in the Champions League qualifying stage tonight.

An elimination against Rumanian club Timisoara could make Shakhtar reconsider the planning of the squad and accept an offer for Chygrynskiy. Although Shakhtar president Akhmetov told last week that Barcelona has made an offer of 22 million euro, Barcelona sources are quoted as telling that the club's highest offer so far was 18 million euro°.

A bad result for Shaktar tonight could make the actual transfer fee drop to 15 or even 10 million euro°. Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that the new asking price could be 18 million euro. Both papers report that the fact that the centre-back won't be able to play for Barcelona in this season's Champions League isn't a problem for Barcelona since the defender is seen as a long-term signing.

Update: Shakhtar drew 0-0 with FCU Politehnica Timisoara in the second leg and have been eliminated from the Champion's League on away goals.

Read more:
Final 22 million offer for Chygrynskiy rejected
Three possible alternatives for the centre-back
Barcelona keeps insisting for Chygrynskiy

While the negotiations with Shakhtar Donetsk defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrnskiy (22) at a standstill (read more here), and Barcelona still wanting to sign a left central defender to pair with Piqué for the long term, Catalan sports paper Sport claimsthat Barcelona has profiled three possible alternatives:

Vincent Kompany (23, 193m) - Manchester City defender and Belgian international
First choice. A versatile player previously targeted by Barcelona while Frank Rijkaard was still in charge, Thuram would have arrived instead. Belgian international, can play multiple positions. Shares defensive midfielder duties on the national team with another Barcelona target, Vertognen. Has height, versatility, youth and experience. Would have fit all the profiles sought by Barcelona.

Miranda (24, 1.85m) - Sao Paulo defender and Brazilian international
A speedy player who forms part of a central duo with veteran Andre Dias at Sao Paulo. Right-footed but plays on the left side in central defense. The fourth choice central defender on the Brazilian national team at the 2009 Confederations Cup behind Lucio, Juan and Luisao. Already had a failed European experience with French club Sochaux.

Jonny Evans (21, 1.88m) - Manchester United defender and Northern Irish international
A player with excellent mental attributes, tactical and calm on the ball. Manchester United's third choice central defender behind undisputed Vidic and Ferdinand. Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson would have authorized the departure of current Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué in part because of the quality of Evans. Contract ends in 2011. Would cost between 12 and 15 million euro.

Asked about the rumours linking Shakhtar Donetsk defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov told the club's official media last Friday that the transfer is now definitely off after the club and the player rejected a last offer by Barcelona:

"Chygrynskiy is with Shakhtar and he will stay. I've been in contact with Dima the whole time. The official proposal from Barcelona was the biggest of Ukrainian history: 22 million euro°! But I promised the staff to keep the squad together.

The matter is not that 22 million is too much or too little, or that we ask 25 million... That's not the issue. I had put forward a certain sum for which we could start negotiating. I didn't make a decision immediately after the offer came. I usually do as my heart tells me. In the evening I think one thing, in the morning another one. It seemed good for him to play for Barcelona. And at the same time we would suffer without him. How to make a decision?

I called Dima and said that I tried to put myself in his place: 'Now try to do the same. I will respect your decision. If you tell me to let you go I'll let you go, I'll even accept an offer of 20 million.' Do you know what he answered? Dima said: 'Rinat Leonidovych, I'll never tell you this, because for me this team, these fans, mean a lot. If my departure would be a step back for Shakhtar, I'll refuse.'

The guy didn't put pressure on the club. Dima is a patriot of Donetsk and all our fans. It deserves great respect. I thank him very much as president and as a human being. So I can say that the whole thing has already finished. For me it is finished so I'm calm now. From my side there was no pressure on the player. I could have said that he has a contract and that is that. But I didn't want to play it that way. The most important thing is that he acted as a very noble man."

Read more:
Shakhtar CEO: Chygrynskiy won't cost 30 million euro
Looking forward to the last transfer window month
Barcelona keeps insisting for Chygrynskiy

Both main Catalan sports papers claim that Barcelona is still interested in Shakhtar Donetsk defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22).

Despite the fact that the player won't be able to take part in this season's Champions League (read more here), Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola insists in signing the centre-back.

El Mundo Deportivo claims that Shakhtar Donetsk would have dropped their asking price from 30 to 25 million euro but that Barcelona would hold on to their previous offer of 20 million euro. Asked about Chygrynskiy, Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola told journalists last week: "There are other options too but basically they are all very complicated."

Read more:
Transfer of Chygrynskiy becomes unlikely
Looking forward to the last transfer window month
Chygrynskiy dismisses Barcelona rumours

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo looks ahead to the last month of the summer transfer window.


Central defender
With the transfer of Shakhtar Donetsk defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22) having become unlikely because of the player's participation in a Champions league qualifying game, Barcelona could decide not to sign another centre-back and to count on Henrique and youth players Muniesa or Fontàs.

Midfielder
Signing another midfielder seems at this moment the priority of the club, with Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25) and Arsenal midfielder and Spanish international Cesc Fàbregas (22) on top of the list. A player with a back-up profile like Poulsen is not an option.

Left winger
With a transfer of main target Franck Ribéry not being possible, a transfer of a left winger is not a priority because the alternatives don't convince. Valencia left wing attacker and Spanish international Juan Mata (21) could be an option if he cannot reach a renewal agreement with Valencia this summer. Other rumoured options like Di María, Robinho or Arshavin seem far off at this moment. Homegrown players Pedro, Jeffren or Gai are expected to get their chances.

Read more:
Transfer of Chygrynskiy becomes unlikely
Mascherano or Cesc
Mata will use Barcelona offer to get pay rise

Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona (read more here), Shakhtar Donetsk defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22) has said in an interview with his club's official media that he's focusing on football issues:

"I don't want to talk about any transfers now. I want to talk about football. I don't know anything. I'm training. If something changes, I'm sure it will be discussed. Because if things happen, the president usually informs the player and he talks to the coach.

And the coach also talks to the president. He can see and knows how the press rumours can affect players. Personally, I communicate a lot with the president. The last time was before the Champions League qualifier. If there was something concrete, I don't think I would have played on Wednesday."

Read more:
Transfer of Chygrynskiy becomes unlikely
Shakhtar asking 30 millions for Chygrynskiy
Chygrynskiy wants to join Barcelona

Shakhtar Donetsk defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22) has played the second half of the Champions League qualifier between Shakhtar Donetsk and Timisoara today.

This means that the centre-back won't be able to play in the Champions League with another team this season, which makes a transfer to Barcelona unlikely (read more here).

Asked about the rumours linking the player with a move to Barcelona, the player's agent Dimitri Seluk had said earlier today in an interview with Catalan radio station Ona FM that Chygrynskiy wouldn't play this evening:

"Chygrynskiy won't play this game, so Barcelona will have two more weeks to keep on negotiating. At this moment, Shakhtar is asking 25 million euro°, a price Barcelona won't pay. So the decision is basically in the hands of the president of Shakhtar. Each day that goes by a deal seems closer, but the president will have to drop the asking price because 25 millions is a lot."

Read more:
Shakhtar CEO: Chygrynskiy won't cost 30 million euro
Chygrynskiy wants to join Barcelona

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo reports that today can be a decisive day in the transfer of Shakhtar Donetsk defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22).

Shakhtar Donetsk will play this evening a Champions League qualifier against Timisoara and if Chygrynskiy takes part in the game, he won't be able to play in the Champions League with another team this season. If the centre-back does not play, signing him stays an option for Barcelona, although with Shakhtar asking 30 million euro and Barcelona only offering 20 million euro°, a transfer doesn't seem close.

Read more:
Shakhtar CEO: Chygrynskiy won't cost 30 million euro
Chygrynskiy wants to join Barcelona

Asked about the rumours of a 30 million euro price tag for Shakhtar Donetsk defender and Ukrainian international Dmytro Chygrynskiy (22), Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Sergiy Palkin dismissed the price in an interview on the club's official website:

"I think, if they had offered 30 million euros, the president could not have resisted. Not thirty, but a little bit less. Now we are negotiating, let us say, not proactively. We talked with the president about that and I told him: if Barcelona is interested in a football player, it always gets the things its own way. We will see it in a few weeks."

Read more:
Shakhtar asking 30 million for Chygrynskiy
Chygrynskiy wants to join Barca
Barcelona prepares new bid for Chygrynskiy