Ibrahimovic For Barcelona?

With Eto'o likely to move on, Barcelona are aflutter at what becomes of the centre-forward position. Bojan Krkic is already shaping up to be a success, but he perhaps remains too young for a 60-game season.

Thus manager Pep Guardiola, vice-president Marc Ingla and technical secretary Txiki Begiristain have been atempting to settle upon a new transfer target, and now they seem to have done so.

With Karim Benzema out of reach for the time being, rumour has it that the blaugrana are now focusing on Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

'Ibra' is certainly not an unknown figure to the European football spectator, but he remains a relatively peripheral figure in Spain. That said, Ronald Koeman and the likes have praised him immensely.

Transfer Probability?

Of course, though, he's highly regarded at Inter, meaning that he would almost be impossible to land in a straight deal.

That's where Samuel Eto'o comes in. The Cameroonian is said to be seeking a new challenge, and Inter president Massimo Moratti would surely welcome a player of such stature for his side's next Champions League campaign.

Thus some kind of swap deal could be in the offing - but that does seem unlikely. For one thing, Didier Drogba of Chelsea is currently closer to Inter than any other forward, given that José Mourinho - his mentor - is rumoured to be taking over soon.

If Drogba does go there, Eto'o would clearly be surplus to requirements - but then AC Milan could move for him. That would open the door for Ibra at Barcelona, and with Drogba coming in the other entrance, he'd probably take the chance.

But the fact that Ibra-Barça depends on so many big-name transfers and squad alterations means that, for now, it is mere paper talk...

Steve Michaels, Goal.com