Barcelona have confirmed they are interested in signing Chelsea’s Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink but the Premiership club have denied receiving any offers for the prolific striker.
Earlier, Barcelona president Joan Gaspart confirmed their interest in the 30-year-old striker.
‘We are interested in signing him and we think he will be complementary to Patrick Kluivert,’ admitted Gaspart.
However, this news was dismissed by Chelsea’s managing director Trevor Birch.
‘I keep hearing that various clubs are supposed to be interested in Jimmy,’ said Birch, ‘but we have had no offers – no one has come knocking. ‘Jimmy is and has been a fine player for us. We would like to keep him.’
Hasselbaink, who has admitted that he is interested in a move to the Nou Camp, is believed to be available for £8 million and with the London club eager to reduce their enormous debts, financial considerations may ultimately determine his future.
Meanwhile, Deportivo La Coruna have emerged as possible suitors should Hasselbaink’s move to Barcelona fall through. The club’s president, Augusto Cesar Lendoiro,s said: ‘We’ll be signing somebody from England who will score and create goals for us.’
