Barcelona to up offer for Shakhtar´s Chygrynskiy

Barcelona are set to offer Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk 25 million euros for their central defender Dmitro Chygrynskiy, according to reports Wednesday.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has kept a close eye on the 22-year-old Ukrainian as he bids to reinforce his squad before the transfer deadline on August 31.

“He knows how to play football, and we need to sign him,” Guardiola told Catalan television channel TV3 earlier this week.

Shakhtar are currently unwilling to sell but Catalan sports daily Mundo Deportivo claimed Wednesday Barcelona have “pulled out all the stops” in a bid to sign Chygrynskiy.

After winning the Spanish Super Cup last weekend Barcelona could pick up their second trophy of the season when they face Shakhtar in the final of the European Super Cup, which pits last season’s Champions League winners against the UEFA Cup champions.

Barcelona became the first Spanish club to achieve the treble of the Spanish league, King’s Cup and Champions League titles last season.

This season they could theoretically aim for another five trophies, following their most recent success, in the league, Cup, Champions League, European Super Cup and the Club World Cup being held in December in the United Arab Emirates.