Javier Mascherano allegedly wants to leave Liverpool for Barcelona and the club is apparently desperate to keep the player. If he wants to go then let him go - there are two inexpensive, readily-available players out there that Rafael Benitez could sign with the money who would instantly improve the club's chances of landing a first ever Premiership title.

AFP PHOTO / VINCENZO PINTO

FC Barcelona this evening completed a blockbuster move bringing Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the Nou Camp in exchange for Samuel Eto'o plus 40 million euros and Alexander Hleb who will be with Inter on a one year loan.

More details to come

Here's the latest European Transfer News including Manchester City bidding for Lescott and the latest on strikers Ibrahimovic and Eto'o.

Man City bid for Lescott - Sky Sports News understands that Manchester City have made a £15million bid for Everton's Joleon Lescott.

The Blues have been strongly linked with Chelsea skipper John Terry during the summer transfer window, with two offers reported to have been rebuffed by the Stamford Bridge outfit.

Everyone's favorite Israeli footballer may just be on the move again. This time, though - he could end up in Barcelona.
In EPL summer transfer news that is just a tiny pimple on the shiny back of Cristiano Ronaldo's departure to Real Madrid, reports suggest that the world's best team, Barcelona, have approached Liverpool regarding the availability of midfielder Yossi Benayoun, Israel's best player.

FC BARCELONA President Joan Laporta flew personally with his teamtoday to the Ukraine to attempt to convince central defender DmytroChygrynskiy of DONETSK SHAKHTAR to sign for the new upcomingseason with the Spanish Club. Barça made a 15M€ offer & for thesecond time both player & Club have said NO.

MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP/Getty Images

According to all the major Spanish news outlets this morning the Eto'o/Ibrahimovic transfer is almost complete. After three hours of negotiating between Samuel Eto'o's agent, Josep Maria Mesalles, and Inter officials the two sides finally came to an agreement.

Splinters are very painful. Ask Alexander Hleb's arse. He sits on the bench so often at Barcelona his arse gets splinters all the time.
The six minute cameo he had tonight gave his arse a welcome break from the ninety minute splintering it usually receives. And what a six minute cameo it was.

MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP/Getty Images

FC Barcelona visited Deportivo for the last game to their historic season in which they become the first club in Spanish history to secure the King's Cup, the La Liga Cup and the Champions League Cup. Head coach Pep Guardiola just 3 days after the dominating win in Rome against Manchester United put together a mostly reserve squad to close out the 2008/2009 campaign.

Why oh why do they bother! Alexander Hleb warned Arsenal last night that they will continue to lose many of their best players every year because of financial reasons. The Belarus midfield player left the Emirates Stadium to join Barcelona last summer because he was dissatisfied with the club's contract offer, .

The Belarus international Alexander Hleb may be able to end his Catalan nightmare. Barcelona midfielder Alexander Hleb is a transfer target for Aston Villa, according to Daily Star Sunday. The Belarus international has been enduring a tough time at Camp Nou, as first team opportunities are proving to be very elusive.

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has become the latest superstar to want a move away from the Premiership in favor of La Liga.

On Thursday, Mascherano's brother Sebastian claimed that the Argentine midfielder desires to play with Barcelona, citing the idea of playing daily with compatriot Leo Messi is an appealing one.

AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

On Saturday Barcelona continue their race for the La Liga title when they travel to Madrid to take on 14th place Getage. The team will arrive on gameday in order to remain near home as long as possible to rest up for the busy week ahead.

Coach Pep Guardiola announced today the team that will travel to take on Getafe.

This just in, Alexander Hleb is not happy at Barcelona. The Belarus international left for the Camp Nou last summer but failed to make much of an impact at the Champions League winning club. All signs point to Hleb heading...

Even though a number of big European clubs have been linked with a move for Karim Benzema, it seems that the excellent striker will stay at Lyon for another year. Lyon's president Jean Michelle Aulas is adamant that Benzema will not leave the club this summer after speaking with the player's agent.

Cesc Fabregas last night shocked Arsenal by admitting: "My family would understand if I signed for Real Madrid." In a heart-rending interview he talks about the frustration and pain of four barren years in North London and brands the Gunners "impotent". Real Madrid's huge summer spending spree to attract the world's best players to the Bernabeu sits [.

by CARL ELDRIDGE Ray Parlour seems to call it about right as he throws his two pennyworth into the mega-millions mix swilling around this morning as Manu Adebayor prepares to join Manchester City.

In this morning's Daily Star, Parlour has accused the Togo star of lacking the stomach for a fight during his last year at Arsenal.

Lee Chung-Yong 이청용, Korea's brightest soccer prospect, is contemplating a Bolton Wanderers move. His football pedigree is clear for all to see. In January of 2009, Lee was named as one of the top 50 rising stars in football by the British daily, The Times. -WikiCurrently plying his trades with FC Seoul, who currently top the Korean K-League, Lee Chung-Yong is compared to Alexander Hleb by many in

FC BARCELONA has come to an agreement with INTER MILAN for thetransfer of ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC as advanced last night & confirmedthis morning by Barcelona based daily "Sport" & TV news media,although we haven't as yet an official Club statement. Everythingoccurred last night when Barça President Laporta & his team made astop from the Ukraine at Milan to have dinner with Inter PresidentMoratti where

Wechselt Ibrahimovic zu Barça?
Erzrivale Real Madrid hat bereits fleißig eingekauft, nun steht auch der FC Barcelona offenbar kurz vor seinem ersten großen Coup. Nach übereinstimmenden Medienberichten aus Spanien steht Inter-Star Zlatan Ibrahimovic kurz vor einem Wechsel zum Champions-League-Sieger.

Here's the latest European Tranfers News, including Samuel Eto'o accepting a move to Inter and Ibrahimovic moving to Barcelona.

Eto'o to Inter, Ibrahimovic to Barcelona - Samuel Eto'o's agent has announced that the Barcelona striker has agreed personal terms with Inter Milan.

Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o has been officially presented as an Inter Milan player at the team's training centre in Appiano Gentile. Eto was part of a trade and cash deal that saw Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic move to FC Barcelona for Eto, 46 million euros and Belarus winger Alexander Hleb on a one year loan.

Former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb, now with Stuttgart, again declared he made the wrong decision in leaving the North London club for Barcelona.

In an interview published by ESPN Soccernet, the Belarus International said:

Of course I regret leaving Arsenal. I was playing every week for one of the most exciting sides in Europe, a team which was always in the top-four in the Premier League and were Champions League contenders.

Oh yes, he's at it again!

"I regret leaving Arsenal," Alexander Hleb lamented.

"I was playing every week for one of the most exciting sides in Europe. I was being guided by one of the best coaches in the world in Arsene Wenger. I owe him a great deal.

Chelsea held Barcelona to a goalless draw in their Champions League semi-final first leg in the Camp Nou.

The Blues defence held firm in the face of the Catalans' majority of possession while the best chance of the night fell to Didier Drogba. With time ticking down in the first half, his shot was blocked by Victor Valdes; and the keeper got back up to knock away his chipped rebound.

REUTERS/Gustau Nacarino

Thierry Henry looks to be doubtful to take on Real Madrid at the Bernabeu tomorrow. Henry suffered a blow to the head this past Tuesday in Champions League action against Chelsea. The blow happened when Henry went up for the ball and was struck by Chelsea defender Alex with an elbow.

The deal which almost beats the Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid saga as the deal of the summer, was completed today.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has signed a five-year contract at Barcelona in a deal equivalent to a €66m transfer from Internazionale, which includes Samuel Eto'o moving in the opposite direction.

Head coach Pep Guardiola announced the 26 players that will be making the trip to the United States for the US Tour. Two names missing from the list are Alexander Hleb and Martín Cáceres both who are rumored to be going out on loan for next season.

The 26 players are:
Valdés, Jorquera, Jorquera, Puyol, Alves, Sánchez, Piqué, Márquez, Henrique, Abidal, Maxwell, Xavi, Touré, Keita, Busquets, Gudjohnsen, Iniesta, Henry, Pedro, Messi, Bojan, Ibrahimovic, Muniesa, Font s, Jonathan dos Santos and Jeffren.

AP Photo/Daniel Maurer

After one year with FC Barcelona and limited playing time, Alexander Hleb has signed a contract with his former club VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga. Hleb had become frustrated with his lack of playing time last season and made his feelings known with comments to the media.

Lionel Messi is flashing his thighs during LA training - we like. But now to the point: Following the team's U.S. tour, Barca plan to offer Messi a new-and-improved contract. The reason for the contract renewal is mainly Ibrahimovic, since he was signed with a higher salary and buy-out cluse than Leo.

by CARL ELDRIDGE Brede Hangeland is on his way to Arsenal after all. Even though he says the rumour of his switch from Fulham is just newspaper talk.

Someone is telling porkies. Or at least evading the truth with smoke and mirrors. It comes down to who you choose to believe.

AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

We have waited for three weeks and the wait will soon be over. Zlatan Ibrahimovic will make his debut for the blaugrana on Wednesday when the team takes on Manchester City at Camp Nou. Ibrahimovic signed for FC Barcelona on July 27 but due to a broken hand was unable to take part in any of the teams preseason matches.

Something to read while you watch Alexander Hleb score 101GG's goal of the week for Stuttgart... WPS 2009 Final review (From a Left Wing) Welcome to the Prem Josmer Volmy Altidore (USA WorldCupBlog) More bad press for Bayern (The Guardian) C-Ron's expensive assymetrical house (The Spolier) Why "the Lescott approach" won't work for you (Studs Up) Meet the most fashionable man [.

The curtain comes down on England's World Cup qualification campaign and, no matter the result on Wednesday 14th November against Belarus; Fabio Capello will be looking ahead to the World Cup with confidence. The road to South Africa has been uncannily smooth for a side that couldn't make it to the Euro 2008 starting line; with spread punters who got with Don Fabio's side generally happier than those who didn't.

The Bavarians have reportedly stepped up their interest in the Blaugrana's unsettled Belarusian midfielder. Catalan-based sports daily, El Mundo Deportivo has reported that Bayern Munich have tabled an €8 million offer to Barcelona for the services of Aliaksandr Hleb. News had emerged last week that the Bundesliga giants were interested in signing the Belarusian as a possible [.

AP Photo / Thierry Charlier

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta responded to rumors that were published in German sports magazine Sport Bild prior to yesterdays Champions League matchup with Bayern Munich. The article declared that Barcelona were interested in bringing Bayern Munich players Franck Ribery and Philipp Lahm to the Nou Camp.

I write this with tears flowing. My missus has told me to pull myself together (not off) but I can't help it. I still love the geezer like a brother.
I've just read Matty Flamini's interview with BBC. He's still a Gooner, I wish he was still a Gunner.
When I look back at his departure I feel a little embarrassed.

The fall out from Chelsea v. Barcelona on Wednesday night continues unabated today as PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor has called for the use of technology in football to assist referees. Speaking to the BBC, he said: "We are putting referee's in too vulnerable a situation with the conspiracy theories that abound that UEFA would not want an all English final, it was an accident waiting to happen.

It's been a busy week in the world of La Liga. Javier Saviola finally realised that he wasn't a required player at Real Madrid, and if he actually wanted to be able to write the word ‘footballer' as his occupation on his arrival card whenever he nicked back to Buenos Aires for a holiday, he would have to go in search of new employers.

According to Robin Hackett at Setanta Sports, Aston Villa are being linked with West Bromwich defender Jonas Olsson. Everton, Blackburn, and Bolton are also thought to be interested. Olsson told Fotbolls Expressen,

"I have heard that there are a few clubs talking about me, but it is my agent, Martin Dahlin, who will deal with the issue .

It appears that Barcelona have grown tired of watching bitter enemies Real Madrid hog all the limelight in the transfer market this past week.
The Blaugrana are set to make their first formal approach in the summer trade period after reportedly submitting an enquiry to Liverpool regarding the availability of winger Yossi Benayoun.