17 Jun 2015

New Transfer: Liverpool chase €30m Barcelona star who's '25,000 times better than Alex Song'

Liverpool are reportedly one of a number of clubs considering a move for Barcelona centre-half Marc Bartra, who is reportedly available for a cut-price fee this summer.

According to the Daily Mail:

"Tottenham and Liverpool are in a three-way battle with Porto for bargain Barcelona defender Marc Bartra"

For the next twelve days, Bartra is available for just €12m, but after July 1st, his transfer fee will be significantly higher.

On Tuesday, the Spaniard's agent, Javier Magico Diaz, noted:

“His [Bartra's] release clause has fallen to €12m, but that’s only until July 1, when it goes back up to €30m.

Diaz also confirmed that 24-year old Bartra is willing to consider a move away from the Nou Camp:

"If there was real interest from clubs where he [Bartra] could get more space then we’ll listen and make our own decisions.”

This seems to conflict with Barcelona's official stance on the issue, though.

When asked this week about Bartra's future, Ariedo Braida, a member of Barcelona’s Football Area Technical Commission, told fcinternews:

“We have no intention of transferring him, therefore, I consider him to be a player who is unavailable.”

Some info about Bartra:

* Centre-back, who can also operate as a right-back.

* 25 appearances for Barcelona this past season (1 goal/4 assists)

* 79 apps overall for Barca over the last six years.

* 5 apps for the Spain national team.

* Current deal expires in 2017.


* When Barca selected Alex song ahead of Bartra in central defence during the 2013-14 season, Bartra's unhappy agent barked: "Bartra is 25,000 times better than Song as a central defender".

€12m for Bartra is a huge bargain, but if Lovren, Sakho, and Skrtel stay at the club, the Spaniard may suffer the same fate as he has at Barcelona, i.e. a perennial bit-part player struggling to get regular game-time.

That said, it's hard to imagine that Barta can do any worse than Lovren, who had a nightmare debut season at Anfield, and with Sakho increasingly injury prone, there's clearly an opportunity there for another central defender to step-in and stake a claim.

Liverpool have been linked with countless Barcelona players over the last 5 years, but never managed to actually seal a deal for anyone. Could the Reds finally break the Nou Camp duck with Bartra?

Time is running out to seal a cut-price deal, but knowing Ian Ayre's negotiating genius, he'll probably wait till July 2nd to finally put in a bid.


Author: Jaimie K


115 comments:

  1. A new manager please before buying another heap of unproven players.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Let's get behind Rodgers and the players. Nothing would please me more then to see Rodgers turn it around this coming season. I for one feel he has it in him to do it. I can see a lot of last years buys come good this season.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Looks great in the clip, very comfortable on the ball and able to pick out a decent pass into midfield, can see he would suit our 'play it out from the back style' Also appears to spot the danger ball good and early and move to intercept it.
    Would like to see how he is with the bread butter stuff like defending from corners, if he does that equally well then with the above and also his versatility, certainly seems worth a go.

    ReplyDelete
  4. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹12:00 am, June 18, 2015

    haha it is late we are half asleep x

    ReplyDelete
  5. ...if you're new, then welcome...although thats not really my capacity as, compared to me, there are seasoned commentators on here who've been posting a long time..


    ...but hi and welcome all the same....


    ...so, what you reckon; do you like it...?

    ReplyDelete
  6. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹12:07 am, June 18, 2015

    Thank you kind sir.. well compared to the Liverpool echo it is less biased reporting, I've been on the echo a couple of years now and I have finally strayed haha x
    I'm sure I will be back !

    ReplyDelete
  7. Class defender but I see him staying in Barcelona for a long time. A lot of Barca supporters rates him highly and has always said good things about him so I just don't see this transfer happening for LFC at the moment

    ReplyDelete
  8. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹12:14 am, June 18, 2015

    yes I think I like this place !!

    ReplyDelete
  9. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹12:18 am, June 18, 2015

    "bob loblow , come on down"

    hey is that were your name ' lob low' originates from? ;)

    ReplyDelete
  10. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹12:20 am, June 18, 2015

    and lots more buts ;)

    ReplyDelete
  11. ..yep, this site attracts quite an eclectic mix of fans and the owner is definitely unbiased...


    ...the people on here are really great too, great comments, good banter and lots of tongue in cheek stuff (you've probably seen that I'm sure - and apologies if you come across any of my comments where I've been particularly naughty ;).....


    ..Its pretty cool you take the time out to post comments..whether on echo or now here...its all good...


    ..I've only been commenting a few months..never really thought about doing so before then, I just read other people's contributions...and appreciated them as I do now still..


    ...so thanks...

    ReplyDelete
  12. You are confusing buy out clauses here.
    Suarez only had a 'good faith' clause in his contract which says he must be informed and that the club must consider the fee in good faith. This is different from a buy out clause stipulating that the club MUST accept a transfer if the fee in the clause is met and the player wishes to go
    Seems a bargain when compared to the likes of Lovren. We will need a ball-playing CB in the squad- Lovren was supposed to be it, the best we have now is the somewhat ungainly Sakho

    ReplyDelete
  13. ...you have my empathy with the nails...


    ...as far as beauty sleep...well you could be insomniac - I'm sure you'd still look great...

    ReplyDelete
  14. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹12:25 am, June 18, 2015

    lol I do tongue in cheek very good infact I'll give you all a run for your money there!
    a femine touch to the site should clean it up haha
    but I'll leave my dusters at home, a bit of dirt doesn't harm you ;)

    ReplyDelete
  15. In other news, Roma have acquired 100% of the rights to Nainggolan.
    They sometimes do this in order to sell, as in Aspas' case before selling him to Celta Vigo. But I fear that this is because they want to keep Nainggolan which is bad news for us as |I don't think we'll get Kondogbia.
    William Carvalho would be my next choice

    ReplyDelete
  16. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹12:27 am, June 18, 2015

    I do tongue in cheek very good, infact I'll give you all a run for your money there!
    a femine touch to the site should clean it up .
    but I'll leave my dusters at home, a bit of dirt doesn't harm you

    ReplyDelete
  17. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹12:28 am, June 18, 2015

    nar you haven't seen my bed head x

    ReplyDelete
  18. ...that is red rag to a bull....


    ...please, please, do not get me started....

    ReplyDelete
  19. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹12:31 am, June 18, 2015

    haha ;)
    or even seen my kipper after that stoke game... wow

    ReplyDelete
  20. ...looking forward to that run for the money.....


    ..and a bit of feminine texture is exactly what the doctor ordered.....

    ReplyDelete
  21. ..after that stoke game trust me..you were not alone...all our 'kippers' looked the same...


    ..(kipper meaning face right?) in case I've balls that up completely...

    ReplyDelete
  22. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹12:37 am, June 18, 2015

    a few men get a grump when they see a woman talking football but I'm a liverpool lass had my first season ticket in the 80s been home and away games and live for my club.. x

    ReplyDelete
  23. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹12:38 am, June 18, 2015

    omg yes face only haha that was a bit fishy!

    ReplyDelete
  24. ...there's nothing more beautiful than a beautiful girl in a Liverpool fc shirt......


    ...had to laugh at the 'grump' bit....I'm seriously appreciating you being on this forum...as will so many of the other guys...


    ...the 'grumpy's' are probably a bit insecure....

    ReplyDelete
  25. ...there's nothing more beautiful than a beautiful girl in a Liverpool fc shirt......

    ...had to laugh at the 'grump' bit....I'm seriously appreciating you being on this f0rum...as will so many of the other guys...

    ...the 'grumpy's' are probably a bit insecure....

    ReplyDelete
  26. ...there's nothing more beautiful than a beautiful g1rl in a Liverp00l fc shirt......

    ...had to laugh at the 'grump' bit....I'm seriously appreciating you being on this f*rum...as will so many of the other guys...

    ...the 'grumpy's' are probably a bit insecure....

    ReplyDelete
  27. ..sorry about the odd reply had to get the comment past a gremlin who ate my previous two....!

    ReplyDelete
  28. ..no, don't worry, i didn't pass judgement... :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹12:45 am, June 18, 2015

    well I try and make em chuckle sometimes it's hard work, but it's all good natured, oh and of course tongue in cheek or even up bum when its desperate times ; )

    ReplyDelete
  30. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹12:46 am, June 18, 2015

    yes all mine are pending grrr my dad must be on monitoring duty tonight!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Haha, DinMan trying to have a go with ladybird below...

    ReplyDelete
  32. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹12:49 am, June 18, 2015

    its a penalty shoot out;)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi, are you Logan's fed up girlfriend?

    ReplyDelete
  34. ..I used to get frustrated at first, then I watched other comments and realised its a game....


    ...you got to find lateral ways of getting posts through...its quite fun really...


    ..I do sometimes kick back and admire some of the guys who have figured out words that get through which are much worse than what the filter is supposed to pick up on.....

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hi..are you Logan's fed up girlfriend?

    ReplyDelete
  36. ...seriously...can you really blame me...?

    ReplyDelete
  37. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹12:52 am, June 18, 2015

    hi .. im afraid not just little old me

    ReplyDelete
  38. Just one more solid player we won't be signing... players see how rodgers uses the players he has already signed and how badly he plays them out of position and know that he is clueless.

    ReplyDelete
  39. ...since you're newer here than me...I'm gonna let you win... :)

    ReplyDelete
  40. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹1:00 am, June 18, 2015

    Well I've learned you can't put three x's
    took me years to remember that..
    so annoying when you have just basically wrote a full page.
    never used to be this bad, tbh I think it's this site .

    ReplyDelete
  41. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹1:03 am, June 18, 2015

    no way I'll score an own goal!

    ReplyDelete
  42. ..hey...what's wrong with chivalry...?

    ReplyDelete
  43. Thanks, I'll take note of the amount of kisses I can put...;)


    ...you've got like, four million comments and votes....
    ...I'm gonna defer to your experience......and say it's probably this site.....

    ReplyDelete
  44. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹1:16 am, June 18, 2015

    haha all from the echo.. all locals on there but some trolls aswell x
    you'll see I change my picture daily just in case of any doubters, all me though x
    so remember the name .. B stands for Bev btw x

    ReplyDelete
  45. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹1:18 am, June 18, 2015

    haha ok then only if you lay your coat down on the floor, just infront of the goal line;)

    ReplyDelete
  46. Upvoted your message, or, if you were being facetious, your masterful sarcasm. Either way, I appreciate your comment.

    ReplyDelete
  47. ...thank you for indulging me...;)

    ReplyDelete
  48. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹1:22 am, June 18, 2015

    you are very welcome x

    ReplyDelete
  49. ...Well Bev, its been brilliant 'talking' with you...


    ...the pictures are great...


    ...I'm gonna wish you gnite and sweet dreams...

    ReplyDelete
  50. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹1:26 am, June 18, 2015

    aww and you,
    & thanks for the friendly welcome .. speak again soon x
    night godbless x

    ReplyDelete
  51. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹1:27 am, June 18, 2015

    ps mwah

    ReplyDelete
  52. My positivity is based upon a heady mix of blind faith and pure Colombian cocaine.

    THIS IS OUR YEAR LADS.

    ReplyDelete
  53. No sarcasm in anyway. At times our football under BR has blown me away. I'm disappointed about our last 6 games as 4th was their for the taking. But I have a feeling it may just be a good season ahead, don't ask me why...

    ReplyDelete
  54. Could someone explain why a release clause would more than double on July 1st? Wouldn't it suit a team to have it double at the conclusion of the season instead of a month after the season ends?

    ReplyDelete
  55. Logan's girlfriend is a chelsea fan

    ReplyDelete
  56. Illarramendi and Camacho would be good choices from Spain if we look there too.


    There are some good targets available. The staff just needs to get their sh*t together and stop messing around.

    ReplyDelete
  57. It seems I'm not the only one misinformed... The number of bitter Arsenal fans calling for legal action for LFC breaking his contract is still pretty high... ;)

    ReplyDelete
  58. Completely agree with you. 13/14 was the best football I've ever seen. Here's hoping for more of the same!

    ReplyDelete
  59. I couldn't agree more... Even pep said something to that effect... We need a top goals scorer (not benteke) and a top goalkeeper

    ReplyDelete
  60. Nah, John Carver.

    ReplyDelete
  61. Remains to be seen...but recognizing our holes ain't rocket science. Filling them shouldn't be either.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Whats wrong with living for a mans club?

    ReplyDelete
  63. We're days away from Ayre and Rodgers being paraded in front of the media whilst gaffer taped into office chairs with socks in their mouths as journos fire transfer rumour after transfer rumour at them mercilessly.

    ReplyDelete
  64. They are probably the most self righteous fans in the UK
    £40,000,001 indeed. Thought they were being clever didn't they?

    ReplyDelete
  65. Yes I forgot about him, good choice.
    Not going to see much action at Real is he?

    ReplyDelete
  66. Seems like a no-brainer.

    I look forrard to Lovren starting first game of the season.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Players have the clauses inserted to protect them if they want to leave due to whatever reason. Along the lines of ' If I don't play more than x percent of games after 2 years, then I can leave for a given fee.
    The club may then impose a time restriction to protect themselves from this often low figure. Hence it goes to £30m after July 1st

    ReplyDelete
  68. Nope. Especially with Lucas Silva bought and Casemiro coming back. Even with Khedira leaving, he'll still be 4th choice at best I think.

    ReplyDelete
  69. And you've spoken to them to confirm that I presume? No?
    Just your invention then eh?
    I'm going to ask again:
    How does a clueless manager get his team to finish 2nd with over 100 goals and playing the best football since Rush Barnes and Aldridge? Don't tell me, let me guess-
    Suarez must have taken training all year, briefed Rodgers on the tactics, chose the team and added 70 assists too even when he was banned
    Maybe he couldn't be bothered the year before

    ReplyDelete
  70. Let's hope he's on the list. The window hasn't even opened and people are writing it off already...

    ReplyDelete
  71. 4eva LFC, LFC 4eva4:24 am, June 18, 2015

    I personally think the saying "LFC does business behind closed doors" in the past was used with good intent, now i believe that management team today hide behind it because they really don't what the supporters to know what they are doing, and when they fail to get certain players they can make up all kinds of excuses, cause no one will ever know right. so they are able to say, this is who we had to take but we wanted this guy and that guy but this happened...................please.

    ReplyDelete
  72. Side track a little. Man City have offered 35 mil pounds + 5 mil pounds add-ons for Raheem Sterling. That's really a lot of money for a prospect player. LFC should fly him immediately in a private jet straight to the centre of Etihad Stadium.

    ReplyDelete
  73. Rodgers to resign what and risk the biggest pay day for nothing that he is ever going to get ha thats really going to happen!

    ReplyDelete
  74. This ain't tinder kids.

    God, one girl signs up and there's mwahs and x's being thrown around, dont you guys know about mono? jeez. You kids behave now y'hear?

    ReplyDelete
  75. No way we get relegated. Not with Ian Ayre closing on all the 'outstanding' strikes and attackers we need, along with a bona fide GK and DM. We are going to sign only the best from the next level and the second next level down and have an all UK team rivaling the England national team. Then we are going to pass on Klopp and re-sign Woy.. Pass the Stoli and ant-depressants please...........

    ReplyDelete
  76. I agree. WE mailed in that game against Stoke and several on Kopite's team were part of that disaster..........

    ReplyDelete
  77. delaying on Klopp until Christmas break risks another shit summer transfer window AND the possibility that someone else signs him as we dither on again..................

    ReplyDelete
  78. I thought it was £40,000,000.01 it was downright insulting

    ReplyDelete
  79. or a helicopter and then let him free fall into the stadium with a faulty parachute

    ReplyDelete
  80. Din man,
    we need 2-3 strikers depending on Daniels health. We have none today worth keeping and need to start from scratch an keep on Daniel as a high upside risk worth taking if he heals. Who knows if Origi will bring anything given his season of zero.....I hope Klopp comes fast and we turn around our obsession with lower league squaddies and get proven quality. Except for Milner we have avoided quality like the plague so far.........

    ReplyDelete
  81. Ayre will bid 6m for him plus Enrique and balo's day glow cleats............

    ReplyDelete
  82. last game I saw him on TV, he looked slow....I liked him prir but not sure now. You????

    ReplyDelete
  83. We are always in for these Barca and Madrid boys but never get anybody. More importantly its lovely to see Sterlings Agent beginning to realise that Sterlings destiny is totally out of his control at least for 12 months HAHA.

    ReplyDelete
  84. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹6:43 am, June 18, 2015

    too true but our hierarchy aren't filling us with confidence, never mind the holes ;-/

    ReplyDelete
  85. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹6:45 am, June 18, 2015

    shall I gow a pair ?

    ReplyDelete
  86. What really pisses me off is that we seem to complicate transfers. We penny pinch quite regular but decide to overpay for Brittish players. We need at least 1 or 2 marquee signings to brighten us up & give the team a lift.

    ReplyDelete
  87. Definitely not miss but i think u missed the poiny.

    ReplyDelete
  88. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹7:13 am, June 18, 2015

    lol ok I'll be good and speak only when spoken too :-)

    ReplyDelete
  89. lady.b.ird πŸ’‹7:16 am, June 18, 2015

    ok I promise I will be good and only speak when I am spoken to .
    lol

    ReplyDelete
  90. Logans girlfriend goes by the name Rodgers out boys.

    ReplyDelete
  91. Provided Can is seen as a midfield player, whether Kovacic would be a good signing or not, attacking midfield should not be the priority. A goalscorer is the most important signing we can make. DM, right-back, left-back and even Barta or Gomez at CB may be interesting but with Sturridge injury prone, Ings alone will not score enough goals. A striker is by far the most important.

    ReplyDelete
  92. With the lack of ambition displayed by BR and FSG so far this close season, it looks like even if we lose 5 of those tough first 7 games, BR will keep his job, conjure up another 9/11 game unbeaten run between Jan to mid-April and keep his job and the cycle repeats itself and we get to another end of season window of being snubbed by quality players and we sign another emerging british talent and another has been on a free

    ReplyDelete
  93. original-gideon9:40 am, June 18, 2015

    The Star...see The S*n, The Mirror, The Metro...All serial bull shiners :) About as reliable as a North Korean toaster when it comes to transfer speculation. They must have a great time at work being paid to make stuff up all day long.

    ReplyDelete
  94. It's all clever talk. When a player says at this moment I'm 100% a player of the club I'm at he's telling the truth which is obvious surely ? He's not saying theirs no interest or denying interest from another club. At this moment I'm 100% writing this message . If this player is really good we won't be going in for him anyway. We don't bring in top players anymore . We're a selling club now thanks to FSG who seem to think you run a football club like a baseball team

    ReplyDelete
  95. Will Skrtel hang around after being given an "unacceptable contract offer"?

    ReplyDelete
  96. LFC just the clubs who able to get free transfer and old players only.
    This is B.Rodgers...

    ReplyDelete
  97. Ok we dont want him cause he is a big player and is not free. TC would you guys now go and sign konoplanka is free

    ReplyDelete
  98. True indeed. :/
    Sad to see such attitude.

    ReplyDelete
  99. KΓ“p MuniesΓ₯1:11 pm, June 18, 2015

    Shut up!

    ReplyDelete
  100. In fairness, if Klopp is really going to take a sabbatical and if he really is the guy that FSG ultimately want, then the only thing they can do for the near future is leave the situation at status quo.


    We wouldn't be able to hire a new manager with the intention of replacing him in 6 to 12 months.


    But they better know if he's willing to come here or not before they take that risk.

    ReplyDelete
  101. You could say that about any defender. So do we just not buy any defenders?

    ReplyDelete
  102. James Milner "dont kill me"4:49 pm, June 18, 2015

    i think milner did something to him. seriously this guy have serious issues with milner . who gives a fuck even milner doesn't ...

    ReplyDelete
  103. People have been ignoring the fact that the player has said hes not joining -even if Liverpool were interested so its a non transfer .Lets move on

    ReplyDelete
  104. Its okay the player has stated hes not joining so it doesnt matter

    ReplyDelete
  105. Totally agree bud, I only mentioned it as Jamie quoted the daily mail and I draw no distinction between the lot of them - just some are dressed up to appeal to a different audience. Picture in an LFC shirt at Anfield is the bit I wait for before I take it too seriously :)

    ReplyDelete
  106. Yokohama Liverpool Fan6:30 pm, June 18, 2015

    Or set the Phazers to vapourize!!

    ReplyDelete
  107. Yokohama Liverpool Fan6:33 pm, June 18, 2015

    Khedira is going to Juve last I heard.

    ReplyDelete
  108. Yokohama Liverpool Fan6:34 pm, June 18, 2015

    Illamerindi alhough not your physical DMF is linked to us. He would be an improvement on Allen.

    ReplyDelete
  109. Geeze it was a play on words with his name emre can ....…..please wake up

    ReplyDelete
  110. The way things are going, puns aren't funny

    ReplyDelete
  111. Maybe FSG are smarter than the lot of us..

    .. as clearly they were forewarned about the fixture list and merely want to protect Klopp and offer up the sacrificial BR lamb...!

    ReplyDelete
  112. 4eva LFC, LFC 4eva1:34 pm, June 19, 2015

    Every season is going to be the same ifs and buts, I to do not believe BR is good enough but i pray he makes me look like a fool because i would rather that than have to watch me team get hammered week in week out. No one knows what the season will bring but what we do know is that we will support the club that we all have come to love.
    All I know is that we have no say in who comes in and who leaves so I will say, I just hope that BR signs players who really understand how great this club really is and who really want to play for the shirt and will fight with passion to take us back to where we belong.

    ReplyDelete