Giovani Dos Santos

[TrueChelseaBlue 105]

Chelsea's hopes of landing midfielder Giovani Dos Santos have been hit by the news Barcelona have opened contract talks with him.Blues boss Avram Grant is keen on making a move for the Mexican international when the transfer window opens next month, but Barca want Dos Santos, who can also operate in attack, to stay at the Nou Camp. The 18-year-old's contract is due to run out at the end of the season and Barcelona do not want a repeat of the situation that saw Cesc Fabregas leave for Arsenal on the cheap. However, Grant is determined to land the 18-year-old, who has stepped up from Barcelona's B team this season, and he is hoping that the Spanish club will be ready to do a deal if Dos Santos rejects a new deal to stay. ClubCall

Edited December 15, 2007 by TrueChelseaBlue

[bombayblue™ 55]

he was never going to come anyway..

[Steve 10,227]

hes got some talent

[Ricky10 5]

Hope he comes i like him

[EskWeston 696]

On CTV last night on the "paper talk" programme there is a journo on there (can't remember his name) who has been banging on for months that we are going to sign Giovanni Dos Santos in January and last night he explained the situation (how he understands it anyway)......

He said that we have been chasing him for a long while and in December over christmas he came over to England and had talks with Avram Grant. However he also had talks with Ramos and Fergie. Only Chelsea and Spurs have officially made bids ours was £10m and Spurs was £8m. Ramos was aparently bigging up the fact that he would play every week for them where he wouldn't for us ect.... Dos Santos went back to Barca and asked the advice of Rijkaard, and aparently he told him to join Chelsea. He has also been talking to Eidur about us and Eidur obviously has been bigging us up and selling us well, but Eidur has reservations about Dos Santos's form at the moment. Finally the main problem now is to get Barca to agree a fee, Dos Santos does not have a pro contract so we could go through tribunal but we would miss the January deadline so we are basically hoping for Barca to accept the £10m we have offered.

[Fulham Broadway 16,392]

Interesting. Tim Vickery that BBC Football bloke who covers South American football rates him highly. What he doesnt know about South American Football isn't worth knowing.

He also said his dad was the Brazilian great Zizhino.

[EskWeston 696]

Interesting. Tim Vickery that BBC Football bloke who covers South American football rates him highly. What he doesnt know about South American Football isn't worth knowing.

He also said his dad was the Brazilian great Zizhino.

He is a massive talent thats for sure at 18!! Although he is receiving a bit of stick because his form has trailed off, which is mainly down to the fact that he has had to burden the responsibility after the poor forms of both Ronaldinho and Messi.

Would be a great great signing if we can pull it off, Barca are aparently wanting to cash in because of his contract situation so i guess we just wait and see, plenty of January still to go.

[Bandicoot 3]

I've not seen him play, but what I've been told about him, he is quality for his age.

Be interesting to see how this one pans out over the coming weeks.

[Badboy 1,526]

He has the vision that we really need in our team.

[kbchel 2]

reports that Chelsea are closing on him now.....

if grant is so busy and roman is so busy with his business with the final who is behind all this???

[EskWeston 696]

Yup, as posted on another thread. Journo on CTV "Paper View" is adamant that Dos Santos is joining us this summer and it was supposed to go through in Jan but didn't in the end. Rekons it is nailed on. We will have to see, but would be a welcome addition from my point of view.

Not sure what position he would play, Winger or Attacking Midifielder?

[C'mon the chels 0]

Barca deploy him in that winger/striker role that we use in the 4-3-3 formation. Not sure if that is his best position, maybe he is a longterm replacement for lamps in the golscoring midfielder sense although I rarely see him doing the defensive work necessary to fill that void or maybe he is just a straight swap for one of the attacking wingers like SWP or Malouda if we are replacing one of those guys.

[EskWeston 696]

Well he could be used in either role and i think we could quite easily use him in either, if we are playing 4-3-3 we need a creative player to play higher up the park in the midfield 3 anyway and he would do a good job. Although he looks very good on the left wing too. Considering he is only 18 he would be a great aquisition, not had the best of seasons at Barca but considering he is contesting places with Eto'o, Messi, Henry, Ronaldinho and Co. it is pretty good

[TrueChelseaBlue 105]

Told you lot months ago we wanted this kid

He'd be a very good addition to our sqaud, skillful, fast, fantastic player for his age, and he can only improve.

[bombayblue™ 55]

as much as i like the kid, i just can't see barca selling him..

[the wes 7,212]

scored a brilliant hat-trick for barcelona what a player!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[the wes 7,212]

Giovani Dos Santos has told Barcelona that if he leaves the club then it will be on a permanent basis, after rumours circulated that they have suggested a loan deal.

The Mexican youngster has refused to even discuss the possibility of spending a year gaining experience elsewhere and insisted that if the Blaugrana want him out, then it will be for good.

Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City have all been linked with the services of Dos Santos, with his agent doing his best to persuade Barca that the high level of interest should mean more money for his client.

If the Catalan outfit refuse to budge and insist that they want the player to play regularly at another club and then return to Camp Nou, Dos Santos will seek a permanent move.

"If I leave, it will be forever," Dos Santos told reporters. "I am someone who believes that if you close a chapter at one place then you cannot go back.

"All I want to do is succeed, whether that be at Barca or at another club."

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11668_3588053,00.html

[lvlourinho 0]

Reports in Spain and Mexico are saying we've agreed to sign this fella. Should be an annoucement Friday.

Wikipedia already saying hes joined!