Valencia set minimum price for David Villa

Valencia have set a minimum price of 50 million euros for the sale of their international centre-forward David Villa, sports newspaper Marca said on Tuesday.

Since the end of May, the 27-year-old has been the subject of attention from super-spending Real Madrid and Barcelona as well as Manchester City in the English Premiership.

Villa’s agent Jose Luis Tamargo had a meeting with Valencia management on Monday to decide whether he should stay at Valencia for whom he scored 28 goals last season. It was made clear during the discussions that the player should stay unless a really big offer came in.

Obtaining Villa’s services is believed to have become less of a priority for Real Madrid since French international Karim Benzema was recruited from Lyon and the focus has switched to Barcelona, Marca said.

Joan Laporta, chairman at the Nou Camp, was recently quoted as saying Barca were hunting a new striker to cover for Samuel Eto’o, whose commitment to the Spanish champions is currently in doubt even though he has been offered a contract extension.

Several clubs are interested in the Cameroon international, scorer of 30 goals last season, but have been put off by the massive price tag involved.

Among the leading suitors have been Manchester City and AC Milan but in recent days both the English and Italian clubs have made alternative arrangements, with City recruiting Carlos Tevez from Manchester United and Milan wooing Seville’s Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano.