Barca confirm Viduka interest

As Planetfootball.com exclusively revealed on Friday, new Barca coach Frank Rijkaard has spoken with Viduka's agent Andrea D'Amico about a move to Camp Nou.

D'Amico has also been in contact with new president Joan Laporta about the possibility of signing the powerful Australian marksman, and the Spanish giants have now confirmed that Viduka is a man they are after.

Viduka was on fire in The Premiership at the end of last season, and was banging in goals for fun to help keep Peter Reid's side in the top flight.

The financial situation at Elland Road means that they will listen to offers for all of their players, and Viduka, along with Paul Robinson and Harry Kewell, look set to move on.

With the news that Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert can leave the club for a bargain basement price of just ‚é¼1.8 million, Barca are preparing a list of replacements.

Barca vice-president Sandro Rosell has therefore confirmed that Viduka is one of the men on the list of players that Catalan club are interested in.

"Due to the financial situation in Barcelona we have made a list of six or seven players that we have in mind to cover for departures," Rosell told Sky Sports.

"I can confirm to you that the Viduka is one of the names on the list.

"Some of them are from the Premiership but we prefer to try and keep things secret for now, if we can."

Viduka fits the bill as the big target man to replace Kluivert, who should now attract interest with such a small asking price.

Viduka would jump at the chance to move to La Liga and he would be one of the players Rijkaard is bringing in to try and turn around the fortunes of the fallen Spanish giants - who only just secured a place in Europe on the last day of the season.