VfB Stuttgart have confirmed that they turned down a Bundesliga record bid of €25 million from Bayern Munich for star striker Mario Gomez…

The powerful striker has had sensational back-to-back seasons with Stuttgart and has been linked with clubs all around Europe, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Milan and Roma.

However, a poor Euro 2008 - his first showing on the big stage - cooled much interest from around Europe, but Bayern Munich remained in the hunt to lure yet another striker to the Allianz Arena, where they already have Lucas Podolski, Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose.

Bayern have inisted that they are not yet out of the hunt and will swoop for Super Mario next year. Stuttgart, meanwhile, are satisfied to have maintained their stance.

“We didn’t want any team’s money,” said Stuttgart manager Horst Heldt. “We wanted to keep Germany’s player of the year.”

Ref From Hans Schmidt, Goal.com

Barcelona midfielder Yaya Touré has reignited the Didier Drogba transfer saga by stating that Didier Drogba personally told him that he’d like to join the blaugrana…

Speaking to Sport.es, the Ivorian midfielder revealed that his countryman previously indicated an interest in Barça.

“I’ve not spoken to him in a few weeks, but last year he was always telling me that he wanted to come to Barcelona,” said Touré.

While such comments may have come during the difficult days of José  Mourinho’s leaving Chelsea and Avram Grant’s installation as boss, nonetheless it could be the case that Drogba retains a soft spot for the blaugrana.

There he could potentially replace Samuel Eto’o as the Cameroonian’s own transfer dramas continue.

For his part, Touré described his “respect” for Samuel, adding that he is “a good person with great character. He works and helps a lot.

“We want him to continue with us. If he stays, that’s good news. He’s a very positive person and he’d like to carry on here. In Scotland he played both pre-season games and showed a positive mentality.”

This was partially down to the input of new coach Pep Guardiola. Yaya said of the new boss, “the best thing now is that we are all focused on the same goal” after the “problems” of last year.

Ref From Steve Michaels, Goal.com

Former Barcelona former Santiago Ezquerro has finally found a new club, putting pen to paper with Osasuna today on a two-year deal with an option for one more…

The 31-year-old La Rioja native had been without a club since the end of last season after his unsuccessful tenure with Barcelona came to an end.

Santi joined the blaugrana from Athletic Bilbao in 2005 but managed just 24 league appearances - including a mere six starts - and three goals in three years.

His cup form, while somewhat more successful, was not sufficient to earn him a new contract, and thus as his deal ended he was promptly usheredo ut the door.

This summer, as last, he was linked with a return to San Mames, where he had spent seven seasons, but this did not come to pass. Instead the Reyno de Navarra awaits the once-capped Spanish international, who has now come full circle.

Indeed, Santi started his professional career in Pamplona/Iruña in the mid-nineties in the Segunda, although his first Primera experience came during two years with Atlético Madrid.

His release clause is €10m.

Ref From Steve Michaels, Goal.com