Barcelona close in on Jordi Alba; Anzhi launch assault on Arda Turan

Barcelona close in on Jordi Alba

Barcelona are on the verge of completing the signing of Jordi Alba from Valencia, Catalan daily Sport understands.

The Catalans have been following the highly rated full-back for a while now and they have already stepped up their interest.

According to Sport, the player has agreed personal term with Barcelona, but the two clubs have yet to agree on the transfer fee.

The Spanish newspaper claims that Jordi Alba could sign a new deal at Mestalla before moving to Camp Nou, just like Juan Manuel Mata did before moving to Chelsea.

Alba is likely to be offered a new and improved contract at Mestalla, which would also lower his release clause to the amount that Barcelona plan to offer for his services.

That would make any future deal more likely as the Catalans would no longer need to negotiate with Valencia officials but simply match the new clause and get their man.

The 22-year-old is very interested in joining Barcelona and everything suggests that he will arrive to Camp Nou before the new season starts.

Anzhi launch assault on Arda Turan

Anzhi Makhachkala are planning a summer bid for Atletico Madrid midfielder Arda Turan, according to Turkish daily Milliyet.

The Russian Premier League outfit recently appointed Guus Hiddink as new manager and they are looking to further reinforce the squad in the summer.

According to Milliyet, the club from Makhachkala have made Atletico Madrid winger Arda Turan their number one target for the summer transfer window.

Guus Hiddink is a keen admirer of the Turkish midfielder and he plans to get reunited with the player after the pair worked together in Turkey national team.

The pair did clash several times in the past, but Hiddink believes the matter has been settled and doesn’t want to miss the opportunity to sign such a good player.

As the Turkish newspaper reports, Anzhi are prepared to match Turan’s €24million release clause and plan to offer the player a €7.5 million yearly wage.

The 25-year-old only joined los Colchoneros in the summer from Galatasaray, but Atletico chiefs will have no say in the transfer should Anzhi make a €24million offer.

Moratti claims Ranieri job safe

Inter owner Massimo Moratti is adamant Claudio Ranieri has the support of the club board of directors at the moment.

The former Chelsea tactician had had a difficult start to his career at Giuseppe Meazza, but appeared to have helped the team kick-start their season at the turn of the season.

However, Ranieri’s position at the club has come under intense scrutiny after Inter failed to win any of their last nine games.

Laurent Blanc and Andre Villas-Boas are being suggested as possible replacements, but Massimo Moratti claims that Inter are not looking for a new coach.

“It’s not easy for a coach to read in the papers every day that there’s a new coach coming in to replace him, when in actual fact no contact has been made with any other coach,” Moratti told Sky Sport Italia.

“Ranieri is professional, he’s getting on with his job and he has my complete support in this difficult time that he’s experiencing and that we’re trying to get through.”

Inter currently occupy the 7th place in Serie A standings, whereas they need to overturn a one-goal deficit in the Champions League Last 16 stage against Marseille.

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