Barcelona Transfer News: Aguero, David Luiz, Agger And Sanchez Involved In Latest Speculation

Barcelona have focused their sights on Liverpool’s Daniel Agger, according to widespread reports in Spain, as they look to finally secure a much-needed central defender. For the second straight summer, the Blaugrana missed out on the signing of Thiago Silva, with the Brazil captain recently signing a new contract with Paris Saint-Germain. That has forced new manager Gerardo Martino and sporting director Andoni Zubizaretta to seek alternatives and it appears that Agger features prominently on that list.

The 28-year-old Denmark international has been at Anfield for seven years and his ability on the ball would make him a natural fit at the Camp Nou. He will not be easy to pry from Liverpool, however, with the club having turned down a bid of around £20 million from Manchester City last summer. Given that the left-footed center-back signed a new four-year-contract last season, his valuation is unlikely to have decreased.

As is often the case, the transfer could well come down to Agger’s willingness to push a deal through if Barcelona do come calling. About to enter his fourth consecutive season without Champions League action, Agger may well be tempted by a big move while he is still at his peak.

Barcelona-based publication Mundo Deportivo believes that equally prominent on the Spanish champions’ radar is Chelsea’s David Luiz. Even more so that Agger, the Brazilian’s willingness and talent to come forward with the ball would mean he would be right at home at the Camp Nou. Although whether Barcelona need another central defender of that ilk, rather than a more uncompromising figure, is a different matter.

Attaining His signature may be even more fraught with difficulties. Jose Mourinho has dismissed the suggestion that the 26-year-old is not in his plans, while he is unlikely to be eager to do Barcelona any favors. Indeed, according to Mundo Deportivo, Chelsea have already leaked a valuation for the player of a massive €58 million in order to deter an approach from the Catalan club.

Having already spent big on acquiring Neymar this summer, it seems hard to envisage Barcelona making another major attacking signing. Yet, El Confidencial has claimed that president Sandro Rosell recently approached Sergio Aguero and Manchester City about a deal for the Argentina international. Unsurprisingly, though, the Premier League club flatly rejected the proposal.

It is believed that Barcelona were willing to spend €45 million to land the former Atletico Madrid man, money that in part would have been raised by the sale of Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean has not lived up to expectations following his big-money signing from Udinese two years ago and endured a particularly disappointing spell last season.

There has been plenty of speculation that Sanchez could be on the way out this summer with Napoli recently joining fellow Italian side Juventus in being linked to the 24-year-old. But Barcelona’s sporting vice president Josep Maria Bartomeu has dismissed any notion of the player being on the market in the current transfer window.

"Alexis Sanchez is not transferable, he said, according to Sport. “There has been much speculation that Sanchez had the option to leave, but there is nothing, there are no formal offers for the Chilean.”

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