Barcelona are lining up a bid for Liverpool winger Albert Riera as time runs out to do deals for Arsenal duo Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Eboue.
Nou Camp boss Pep Guardiola conceded at the weekend that a move for Fabregas was unlikely to come off, but the club's deal-maker Txiki Begiristain has not ruled out snaring him before Tuesday night's Battle of Britain Champions League tie between Celtic and the Gunners.
Emirates boss Arsene Wenger insists his captain is not for sale and using him at Parkhead would cup-tie the 22-year-old from playing for anyone else in the Champions League this season and effectively crush a deal. The same goes for Eboue, who is seen by Barca as a candidate to provide defensive cover.
A deal for Fabregas seems almost impossible but technical secretary Begiristain has yet to concede defeat, saying only that a deal was 'very complicated'.
The Spain midfielder's versatility is attractive, but Barca will turn to cheaper options if, as expected, they fail to land him. Liverpool winger Riera has been floated by Begiristain as a left-sided reinforcement following difficulties in landing Juan Mata from Valencia.
Riera, 27, impressed at Anfield after signing from Espanyol for £8million last summer.
Barca has struggled to bring in the right players this summer, including Liverpool's Javier Mascherano, adding just Maxwell and Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Inter Milan.
Begiristain warns the quality of candidates he is looking at means they may ultimately make no more major signings before the close of the transfer window at the start of next month.
'The players we want are not cheap,' said Begiristain. 'We must look at alternatives and see what is better. The squad will be added to only if we value the player.'
Nou Camp boss Pep Guardiola conceded at the weekend that a move for Fabregas was unlikely to come off, but the club's deal-maker Txiki Begiristain has not ruled out snaring him before Tuesday night's Battle of Britain Champions League tie between Celtic and the Gunners.
Emirates boss Arsene Wenger insists his captain is not for sale and using him at Parkhead would cup-tie the 22-year-old from playing for anyone else in the Champions League this season and effectively crush a deal. The same goes for Eboue, who is seen by Barca as a candidate to provide defensive cover.
A deal for Fabregas seems almost impossible but technical secretary Begiristain has yet to concede defeat, saying only that a deal was 'very complicated'.
The Spain midfielder's versatility is attractive, but Barca will turn to cheaper options if, as expected, they fail to land him. Liverpool winger Riera has been floated by Begiristain as a left-sided reinforcement following difficulties in landing Juan Mata from Valencia.
Riera, 27, impressed at Anfield after signing from Espanyol for £8million last summer.
Barca has struggled to bring in the right players this summer, including Liverpool's Javier Mascherano, adding just Maxwell and Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Inter Milan.
Begiristain warns the quality of candidates he is looking at means they may ultimately make no more major signings before the close of the transfer window at the start of next month.
'The players we want are not cheap,' said Begiristain. 'We must look at alternatives and see what is better. The squad will be added to only if we value the player.'
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