Barca confirm agreement for Boca hotshot; Benfica slap €40m price tag on Witsel

Barca confirm agreement for Boca hotshot

Barcelona have announced on their official website that they have reached an agreement with Boca Juniors to sign forward Sergio Araujo.

The highly rated youngster is set to sign a two-year loan deal with the Catalans subject to passing a medical at Camp Nou.

The 20-year-old will link up with Barcelona B side, where he will have a chance to get regular playing time and prove his amazing potential.

Sergio Araujo came through the youth ranks at La Bombonera, and was handed a first team debut in December 2009.

Despite showing a lot of potential, he never quite managed to get a run in the senior side, and only went to start five league games for los Xeneize.

Nevertheless, the player displayed his amazing skills by playing for Argentina youth sides and thus earned a chance to prove his worth at the biggest stage.

Provided he stays at Barcelona B for a couple of years, the player could go on to achieve great things at Camp Nou.

Benfica slap €40m price tag on Witsel

Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira has revealed that star midfielder Axel Witsel will only be sold if a club match his release clause.

The highly rated Belgian is one of the hottest commodities on the transfer market and has seen his name linked with the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid.

The player is, however, tied to a long term contract at La Luz and has a €40 million release clause in his deal.

Club president Luis Filipe Vieira now explains that Benfica are not interested in cashing in on the player and will only sell him for the amount of his release clause.

“The clubs are aware of the release clause in his contract,” the Eagles chairman told Antena 1.

“If they come here and pay up, there is nothing we can do. We are very happy with Witsel and do not think about selling him.”

The 23-year-old joined Benfica in a €7.5 million move from Standard Liege last summer, but he largely impressed in his first season at La Luz.

The Belgian international scored a total of 5 goals in 48 competitive appearances for the Eagles.

Chelsea’s De Bruyne set for Bundesliga move

Chelsea winger Kevin De Bruyne is expected to join Werder Bremen on a season-long loan, according to Het Nieuwsblad.

The 21-year-old joined Chelsea in an €8 million deal from Genk last January, but was immediately loaned back to the Belgian side.

The talented winger has since returned to Stamford Bridge, but only to find competition for places even more fierce than six months ago.

Following the arrival of Eden Hazard and Marko Marin, the Belgian is set to be farmed out on loan once again.

Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad reports that the player has agreed to spend next season on loan at Werder Bremen, where he will have a chance to get much needed first team experience.

Having already signed Eljero Elia and Theodor Gebre-Selassie, the Weserstadion outfit look ready to enter the Bundesliga title race and the arrival of De Bruyne should help compensate for the departure of Marko Marin and Claudio Pizarro.

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