Barcelona Transfer News and Rumours Tracker: Week of July 1

As we enter July, Barcelona are still no further forward in the pursuit of their main transfer targets.

It's been a frustrating summer so far for the Blaugrana—Neymar aside—however, the Confederations Cup has played havoc with any transfer dealings given that a number of potential targets have been fully focused on the competition.

Now that it's over, we should begin to see some movement between clubs who will be keen to tie up transfers quickly so that there is no disruption to preseason preparations. 

Barcelona will still be hopeful of securing their major targets whilst hanging on to their young talent.

Let's see who has been linked with a move in or out of the club, and don't forget that this page will be updated throughout the week. 

LAST UPDATED: Friday, July 5

Thiago Alcantara

The will-he-won't-he saga of Thiago Alcantara's potential move to English Premier League champions Manchester United shows no signs of abating.

A number of news outlets had reported the deal as being "close" however Metro are saying that Barcelona insiders suggest a formal bid still hasn't been received for the player.

It's a situation that needs to be tied up quickly as Alcantara's buyout clause will rise significantly come August 1.

Wayne Rooney

It now seems unlikely that Wayne Rooney will be travelling in the opposite direction to Alcantara.

Reports had linked Rooney with a switch to Barcelona and Gerard Pique for one was looking forward to the players arrival.

He told Sport (h/t skysports):

"

I know he has what's needed to be one of the three best players in the world. He'd fit well with Barcelona.

He can adapt to many positions. He's best as the centre-forward, but we have seen him on the left or right side.

He is very versatile, strong, fast and has great technique. I don't think he would have any problems adapting.

"

However, in his first press conference as Manchester United manager, David Moyes was unequivocal when asked about Rooney.

The Guardian report Moyes as saying:

"

I have had opportunities to speak [to him], I've had a chance to speak to Wayne. The fact of the matter is that Wayne's not for sale.

He's a Manchester United player, he will remain a Manchester United player. I've been fortunate, I've known Wayne since he was 16. It is a little bit of déja vu, it's a similar sort of feeling.

I've had several meetings with Wayne, he's training brilliantly well, he's come back in good shape and I really look forward to working with him.

"

Thiago Silva

Barcelona's pursuit of top target Thiago Silva has not been dented by the statement from Paris St. Germain's President Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

The Blaugrana are desperate to add Silva to their defensive ranks however as Al-Khelaifi told Sport (h/t goal.com), the player is going nowhere.

"

Thiago Silva is not for sale. He will stay at the club until the end of his contract.

The problem is not that Barca are not offering us enough money. We simply do not want to negotiate his sale.

We won't evaluate any offers or contemplate selling him. We won't even sit down to negotiate.

Selling is exactly the opposite of what we want to do. Our intention, after winning the domestic league title, is to fight for other more ambitious goals and make more signings.

"

Gerard Deulofeu

One player possibly on his way to England is Gerard Deulofeu.

According to El Mundo Deportivo (Everton or Tottenham" href="http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/218697.html" target="_blank">h/t ESPN), both Everton and Tottenham Hotspur are monitoring the situation with a view to taking the player on loan.

Deulofeu's agent, Gines Carvajal, has been in working in England to finalise the transfer of Marc Muniesa to Stoke City and it is believed that he may have also held talks on Deulofeu.

Barcelona will only sanction a loan, rather than permanent, move.

Marc Muniesa

Marc Muniesa has made the switch from Catalonia to England after signing on a free transfer at Premier League Stoke City according to The Guardian.

Released from his Barcelona contract on Sunday, Muniesa wasted no time in securing himself a four-year-contract to become manager Mark Hughes' second summer signing.

The player's first team debut for Barca was notable...but not for the reason you might expect.

Only a few minutes after entering the field against Osasuna in May 2009, Muniesa was unlucky to be sent off. It was the seasons' final La Liga match and thereafter the player never really managed to force his way back into the first team picture.

A serious injury further hampered his progress and as a result Muniesa has been a staple fixture for Barca B.

Former Barcelona player Hughes is more than happy with his acquisition:

"

"Marc has been well-schooled by Barça. Technically, he's a very good player and I've no doubts he will be an excellent addition to our squad.

I know he's very highly regarded in Spain and was attracting interest from clubs in La Liga, but he's an ambitious young man and wants to test himself in English football."

"

Bojan Krkic

Barcelona need to off load the likes of Bojan Krkic, Ibrahim Afellay and Jonathan Dos Santos to raise funds for further transfers.

According to Metro, Tottenham Hotspur" href="http://bleacherreport.com/tottenham-hotspur" target="_blank">Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas has been offered Krkic for a cut price £6 million via a third party agent.

The player had loan spells at both Roma and AC Milan in Italy's Serie A but neither club were impressed enough to part with a transfer fee to make the move permanent.

Should Tottenham not progress any discussions, it is understood that PSV, Marseille and Real Betis may also be interested in the 22-year-old's signature.

Thiago Silva

Prior to the last couple of days, Thiago Silva's agent Paulo Tonietto had made it abundantly clear that his client would not be leaving Paris St. Germain.

His recent words to RAC1 (h/t goal.com) seem to suggest a potential move to Barcelona could well now be on the cards:

"

There's a lot of talk that Tito likes him, but if that's the case, someone should open talks.

If you want to sign someone, you will not succeed in doing so by sitting at home watching television.

"

Barcelona board member Toni Freixa noted (via sport360) that:

"

The wishes of the technical staff will be addressed, as they are every year.

But the club manages its needs according to the available resources, and we don’t want the market to know the amount of money that is at our disposal.

Officially, we are saying nothing, but we are continuing to work, whether for this player or any other that we might have an interest in.

"

Despite there being other, cheaper defensive options available to him—Silva would likely cost in the region of €40million—coach Tito Vilanova remains set on procuring his top target.

Thiago Alcantara

There is still no firm news on the transfer of Thiago Alcantara to Manchester United, however ESPN are reporting that "sources" are quoting a deal as "very close".

The delay in a successful conclusion appears to have been as a result of the player insisting that there should be a similar contract clause to his Barcelona contract—that being he could leave for an agreed fee should he not fulfil a set amount of appearances.

With negotiations still ongoing, Barcelona retain a degree of hope that they can persuade Alcantara to commit to a new contract—as they have successfully managed to do with his sibling Rafinha.

Thiago Alcantara

The potential transfer of Barcelona starlet Thiago Alcantara to Manchester United took another unexpected turn over the weekend, as Graeme Yorke of the Daily Mail reports.

Sitting by a rooftop pool with his younger brother, Rafinha, the player tweeted the words "I love Barcelona."

Could this be in reference to the club he has served for the last few years and where his sibling has just extended his own contract? Or was he just referring to the city in which he lives?

Either way, the rumour mill has gone into overdrive with the player still yet to pass proper comment on where he will be playing next season.

Manchester United are desperate to secure Alcantara's services and understood to have already agreed personal terms of £5.5million-a-year with him.

Barcelona will be equally as desperate to hang onto a player that many believe will—in time—be Xavi Hernandez's midfield heir.

Thiago Silva

According to Gemma Herrero of Marca, Barcelona's director of football, Raul Sanllehi, has arrived in Brazil with a view to securing the signature of Paris St. Germain and Brazil international defender Thiago Silva.

Once the Confederations Cup has concluded, Sanllehi intends to meet with both the player and his agent, Paulo Tonietto.

Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova clearly has not given up hope of bringing his main defensive target to Camp Nou despite both Paris St Germain and Tonietto declaring that Silva will be staying in the French capital.

PSG's president, Nasser Al Khelaifi, has also been very clear when asked by reporters as to the rumours surrounding certain players, saying: "Ibrahimovic and Silva are staying at the club until the end of their contracts."

The only hope Barcelona have of forcing through a deal is if Silva himself hands in a transfer request.

Cristian Tello

One player definitely staying at Barcelona is Cristian Tello—if this report by Marca is accurate.

The youngster has been the subject of transfer speculation all summer but notice from the club that they wish to improve his contract has been enough to convince the player to stay at Camp Nou.

Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund were just two of the clubs strongly linked with the player and who would've been prepared to pay his ridiculously low €10 million buyout clause immediately.

That Barcelona are keen to raise that as well as the player's salary is a sign of how much they value one of the brightest young talents in the Spanish game.

Tello will have his work cut out to command a regular starting berth, however.

Aside from Lionel Messi and Neymar, Tello will vie for a position with Pedro Rodriguez, Alexis Sanchez and—if they are not sold or loaned this summer—David Villa, Gerard Deulofeu and Bojan Krkic. 

Bojan Krkic

Bojan Krkic is one of the players who could be on his way out of Barcelona.

Estadio Deportivo (h/t Football-Espana) report that there are three possible destinations for the young Catalan.

Available for around the €10 million mark, the player is interesting Malaga, Real Betis and Atletico Madrid.

Despite a record-breaking youth career at La Masia, and an impressive start to his first-team career in Barcelona, Krkic faded badly and was loaned initially to Roma and then AC Milan in a complicated set of circumstances.

That neither Italian club decided to take up their option on their player suggests that he hasn't recaptured the form of his earlier years.

The interest of the trio of Spanish clubs may just give him the confidence boost he needs to rediscover his goalscoring touch and still just 22 years of age, Bojan undoubtedly has his peak years ahead of him.

Antonio Sanabria

Cesc Fabregas, Fran Merida, Hector Bellerin and Jon Toral all left Barcelona for Arsenal when they were only 16 years of age.

Now the Gunners are on the verge bringing another Barcelona youngster to North London.

Tom Hopkinson of the Mirror reports that 17-year-old prodigy Antonio Sanabria could be treading the same path as his contemporaries and swapping Spain for England.

The player is very highly thought of at La Masia, and the club will doubtless do everything in their power to keep hold of him.

Sanabria's assured display at the Under-20 World Cup has brought him to the attention of the wider footballing public and comparisons with Real Madrid's Karim Benzema.

Barcelona may find it difficult to ward off potential suitors who are able to offer the youngster a more lucrative salary package.