The Fans Football Blog3

Spanish news site El Confidencial claims that Barcelona wants to sign Atlético Madrid forward and Uruguayan international Diego Forlán (29) to replace Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o (28), for whom Barcelona has received several good offers from England and Italy (read more here).

Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would have told Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain that he prefers Forlán as substitute because he thinks the Uruagayan would link up perfectly with Barcelona player Lionel Messi. Arsenal forward and Togo international Emmanuel Adebayor (25) would be the second name on Guardiola's list (read more here).

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Barcelona president Joan Laporta wants to sell Eto'o because this summer could be the last chance to get some money for the Cameroonian, whose contract expires in 2010. Forlán would be the preferred substitute of Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain, who already wanted to sign the striker in 2004 and 2006. Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola would have given his permission for the deal.

Asked about the rumours that Barcelona would have offered Eto'o to Manchester City last week (read more here), Laporta denied the story to journalists: "I don't think this is the right moment to talk about these things, although I want to make clear that I have been in London to solve some business issues relating to my job as a lawyer. I did not meet with anyone from Manchester City to talk about a possible transfer of Eto'o. It's not a matter of money. Barça isn't a selling club. We buy players, we don't sell them."

Read more:
Verbal agreements on Aguero transfer
New bid for Adebayor being planned
Forlan candidate to replace Eto'o