Barca to offer Cruziero Geovanni bait

Geovanni has recently returned to Camp Nou after spending the second half of the season on loan at Benfica.

Though the pacy wideman is now keen to remain with the Catalan club, the new Barca regime, led by president Joan Laporta and his new manager Frank Rijkaard, seem to have decided the player is surplus to requirements.

Thus, the 23-year-old will be offered as payment to Cruziero as Barca look to finance the ‚é¼8 million fee they agreed with the Brazilians for Sorin.

Another player seemingly on his way out at the Primera outfit is Gaizka Mendieta.

The Spanish international midfielder is on loan at Barca until the end of June from Lazio, but any permanent deal is unlikely to materialise due to the Roman club's asking price.

Lazio insist they rate the player at ‚é¼24 million (£16 million), and although they would be prepared to do business at around ‚é¼15 million (£10 million), Barcelona are not prepared to meet such a figure.

Another stumbling block is the former Valencia star's huge wages.

Mendieta currently earns approximately ‚é¼6 million (£4 million) per annum, and the new Barca regime will not sanction such elevated terms.

It seems likely that Mendieta will be following Dutchman Frank de Boer out of the club when his loan deal expires on June 30.