The Fans Football Blog3

Argentinian newspaper Clarín claims that Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola has talked with Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (24).

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Mascherano and Fiorentina defensive midfielder and Brazilian international Felipe Melo (25) are two candidates to replace Barcelona defensive midfielder and Ivorian international Yaya Touré (26) if the latter would leave this summer.

Melo has been followed by Barcelona for several years now and the excellent relationships between the player's agent Rodri - who also represents Barcelona player Dani Alves - and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain would make a transfer more likely (read more here).

The paper nevertheless indicates that a possible transfer of Mascherano wouldn't necesarily mean the exit of Touré and that the Argentinian midfielder could be signed to strenghten the midfield. The news could also be a way to put pressure on the renewal negotiations with Touré.

British tabloid The Sun meanwhile claims that Barcelona is preparing a 22,5 million euro° bid for Mascherano, trying to take advantage of the financial problems the English Premier League club would be facing.

Read more:
Mascherano ideal candidate to strengthen midfield
Toure rejects first renewal offer
Offer for Fiorentina midfielder Felipe Melo