Johan Neeskens, assistant to Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona, has confirmed that the club are monitoring Blackburn Rovers defender Lucas Neill.
The Australian’s reputation was enhanced by an impressive World Cup and he was strongly linked with a move to Liverpool during the summer.
A host of clubs have expressed an interest in signing Neill, who is in the final year of his contract at Ewood Park, with Barcelona the latest to throw their hat in the ring.
“We have signed some great defenders, but things can change in a year and I know that Frank Rijkaard (Barcelona coach) is following this player very closely,” said Rijkaard’s assistant Neeskens.
Neill has made it clear that he will not be signing a new deal with Blackburn, but Rovers have not given up hope of persuading him to sign a new deal.
“I spoke to Lucas as he left the stadium after the game on Sunday to catch his flight and I said to him that we would talk about his future when he got back and sort something out then, and he agreed,” Rovers chairman John Williams told the Lancashire Telegraph.
