FC Barcelona Transfer Tracker: Week of June 24 News and Rumors

Another week gone by and the Barcelona transfer rumour mill has been in overdrive.

No new players have been added to the Blaugrana roster save for Neymar, who is currently enjoying a wonderful Confederations Cup campaign with Brazil.

Tito Vilanova has made it abundantly clear that his next target is PSG captain Thiago Silva, but if reports are accurate, it's highly unlikely the Brazilian will sign on. 

With Barca fans growing ever more frustrated at the lack of new blood, a new signing is a must to lift the enveloping gloom.

Let's take a look at who might be next to walk through the gates at Camp Nou.

We will update this tracker throughout the week with any news, rumours and updates.

LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY 28 JUNE

Thiago Alcantara

It would now appear to be a foregone conclusion that Thiago Alcantara is on way out of Camp Nou and into Old Trafford and Manchester United.

Reports from goal.com suggest the player has already agreed personal terms at United and is now preparing to inform Barcelona of his decision to move.

A fee of £15.4 million has been agreed for the 22-year-old and David Moyes is keen to make the midfielder his first summer signing.

For their part Barcelona do not want Alcantara to leave and have given assurances that, in time, he will have a major role to play in the first team.

This hasn't been enough to convince the player to stay however.

Rafinha Alcantara

Thiago Alcantara's younger brother Rafinha will be staying at Barcelona.

The player and club have reached an agreement to extend the players contract until 2016 however the plan is to now send the Barca B player out on loan for a season in order for him to gain the required experience.

Marca.com report that Celta Vigo is Rafinha's most likely destination where he will link up with new Celta manager, and former Barca player, Luis Enrique—a manager whom the player has already played under at Barca B.

Rafinha's buyout clause will also be raised to ward off potential suitors.

Marquinhos

Conflicting rumours surround the potential transfer—or not—of AS Roma's Marquinhos to Barcelona.

Via La Gazzetta (h/t marca.com), the news is that Barca are preparing to fork out the princely sum of between €25 million and 28 million to acquire the player and shore up the defence.

It is suggested that Roma require nearer to €35 million to €40 million to consider such a sale.

Yet skysports.com are quoting the player's agent as suggesting his Client has no intention of swapping Italy with Catalonia.

Roberto Calenda remarked; 

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"The interest of Barcelona? He is a Roma player and he remains at Rome.

It is inevitable that there are interests for a player so young and already regular in an important team.

He still has a four-year contract with Roma and then I would not do fantasy flights."

"

David Villa

David Villa has confirmed that he wishes to move to Tottenham Hotspur according to Greg Stobart of goal.com.

Discussions between Villa and Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas have taken place and there is already agreement over the player's personal terms.

Franco Baldini, Tottenham's new Technical Director, has also been in touch with Villa's agent to progress any possible transfer.

One potential stumbling block to a successful conclusion is the London clubs' reluctance to pay the full asking price of £12 million, preferring to open the bidding at nearer £8 million.

With interest also from Italy in the shape of Serie A side Fiorentina, the player himself prefers to wait until after Sunday's Confederations Cup Final before making a final decision on his future.

Wayne Rooney

With Wayne Rooney's Manchester United career still in some doubt, Barcelona have moved to the head of the queue in the race to sign him, should he become available.

Reporting for The Sun, Antony Kastrinakis quotes a Barca insider as saying:

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“Rooney is precisely the type of attacker that would fit perfectly into the system.

Defence starts from the front at Barca and Rooney works harder than anyone.

His first touch, movement, control and vision are phenomenal and if he comes on the market then the club are certain to try to sign him.”

"

A fee of £25m is mooted, but Barca will face stiff competition from Real Madrid and Chelsea for the players' signature.

 

Samir Handanovic

Inter Milan goalkeeper Samir Handanovic had been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona but his agent is adamant that there is not truth to any rumours of contact between the two clubs.

Football Italia are reporting that the Slovenian's representative has not heard from the Catalans.

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“The rumours that have appeared in the newspapers are not true. 

Samir is an important element for Walter Mazzarri.

I have seen no offers from Barcelona—that idea was linked with the possible departure of Victor Valdes.”

"

Should Valdes leave Barcelona anytime soon then this may change the goalkeeping picture, but for now it would seem that Handanovic will stay at Inter.

Gerard Deulofeu

One player who is certain to be on the move is young Gerard Deulofeu.

The 19-year-old was superb throughout last season and was Barca B's talisman on many occasions.

That kind of form hasn't gone unnoticed and Talksport are now reporting that Barcelona will allow the player to leave on a season long loan to a club in Germany or England to gain experience.

Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are all believed to be ready to give the player the match time he requires.

Deulofeu enjoyed a prolific partnership with new Liverpool signing Luis Alberto last season, and the chance to link up with the ex Sevilla man once again may be too good an opportunity to turn down.

Victor Valdes

Victor Valdes has 12 months left on his Barcelona contract and has already said that he will honour this.

However rumours still abound that if the right offer were to come along now—and Barcelona could source an adequate replacement—then Valdes may well be allowed to leave sooner rather than later.

Joe Prince-Wright of NBC Sports has Valdes down for a possible trip across the pond to the MLS. 

When asked about a future destination, Valdes said:

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“I do not know where [I will end up], I have a year to think about it.

I will not stay in Spain, but I do not mind where, when the moment comes I will decide. I have time.

It could be Italy, Russia, Germany, China, or crossing the pond [to the Unites States], to go far away.

Anyone who knows me knows I hate talking about money. I have never decided anything in my life for money.”

"

At only 31 years of age, Valdes is in his prime as a goalkeeper. Expect a scramble when his signature comes up for auction.

Miralem Pjanic

It seems that Barcelona are already making moves to replace unsettled Thiago Alcantara.

Reports in the Spanish press claim that AS Roma's Miralem Pjanic is the subject of an €11 million offer from the Catalans.

Football Italia have picked up on the story and report that a bid for the player is just a formality.

The 23-year-old Bosnian played in 27 games last season for the Italians, scoring three goals.

Thiago Alcantara

Post-Neymar, we now find ourselves in the midst of another will-he-won't-he transfer saga.

Thiago Alcantara is plainly unhappy at his lack of game time under Tito Vilanova.

The rumours surrounding a proposed move to Manchester United" href="http://bleacherreport.com/manchester-united" target="_blank">Manchester United were not helped by David De Gea's message on the match ball given to Thiago after his hat trick in the final of the U21 European Championships.

However, goal.com report that a meeting between Barca President Sandro Rosell and Thiago's father Mazinho might turn the tide back in favour of the Blaugrana.

That news could well disappoint Reds fans and players. When asked about Thiago, Ryan Giggs told reporters: 

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"I've seen him in several games.

He's a good player but there's always a lot of speculation with United and good players.

We'll see if it happens in the end but he's a big talent."

"

David Villa

David Villa could be plying his trade in Italy next season.

Early reports suggested that Tottenham Hotspur" href="http://bleacherreport.com/tottenham-hotspur" target="_blank">Tottenham Hotspur may be the next destination of the record goal scorer for the Spanish national team.

However, the Fiorentina Daily Mirror have news that Fiorentina are preparing an £11 million bid for Villa and Barcelona colleague Jonathan Dos Santos.

Victor Onate, Villa's agent, certainly hasn't denied the interest of the Italians:

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"If he does leave Barca, we are looking for an ­important project that will allow him to play at a high level.

England or Italy makes no difference, as long as the project is good.

We know the type of project that Fiorentina have in mind. I worked with their technical Eduardo Macia at Valencia.

We are good friends and in ­constant communication. Fiorentina had a good season and they intend to grow even more."

"

Pepe Reina

Speculation still surrounds the goalkeeper position at Barcelona.

Victor Valdes had seemingly committed himself to the Catalan giants until the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2013/14 season.

Yet hot on the heels of Valdes' declaration comes the news (via The Sun) from Liverpool" href="http://bleacherreport.com/liverpool" target="_blank">Liverpool's Pepe Reina that he may be prepared to move to new pastures.

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"My situation is clear. I have three more years of my Liverpool contract—but I never say never.

I’m very happy and satisfied at Liverpool.

But of course if I’m given the chance to improve and go to a bigger club, and now there are a few bigger than Liverpool, I’m sure the club would understand."

"

His words are clearly a reference to a potential move to Barcelona and the expected transfer of Sunderland" href="http://bleacherreport.com/sunderland" target="_blank">Sunderland's Simon Mignolet to Liverpool only adds further fuel to the speculation that Reina will move sooner rather than later.

Cristian Tello

Cristian Tello is another talented Barcelona youngster with a ridiculously low buyout clause.

At only €10 million, Tello's acquisition represents a bargain for any interested parties.

In order to warn off potential suitors, Barcelona are working hard to keep the player happy and at Camp Nou.

Marca advise that Andoni Zubizarreta has already met with Tello's agent Jose Maria Orobitg to discuss improved contractual terms and a buyout clause raised to €18 million.

Whilst the news will be music to the ears of Barca fans, the fact remains that even the higher buyout clause is still well within the reach the reach of most clubs.

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen

According to Spanish daily Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona will shortly announce the capture of Borussia Monchengladbach's Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Football Espana are also running the story which indicates that the youngster will shortly sign on with the Catalans for a fee of  €12 million.

The German international will then be loaned straight back to Monchengladbach for one more season before, one would assume, becoming Barca's number one for the start of the 2014-15 season.