MADRID, Spain (AP) - FC Barcelona is trying to sign Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb, a Spanish media report said.
Barcelona sporting director Txiki Begiristain met with the player and his agent in Germany, where Hleb was taking part in Belarus' friendly against Germany on Tuesday, news agency Efe reported on Wednesday.
Barcelona has been the busiest Spanish club since the start of the offseason transfer market.
The Catalans signed defender Gerard Pique from Manchester United to a four-year deal on Tuesday, a day after buying Seydou Keita out of his contract with Sevilla. The Mali midfielder, who also agreed to a four-year contract, cost Barcelona 14 million (US$22.1 million).
Barcelona finished 18 points behind champion Real Madrid for third place - its worst finish in five seasons.
The 27-year-old Hleb could invoke Article 17 of FIFA's transfer rules, which allows a player under 28 to end his contract after three years.
Daniel Alves is no closer to leaving Sevilla even with the club receiving numerous offers for the Brazil right back.
Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido said Wednesday that he has received three offers for the 24-year-old Alves.
"But not one offer is close and for that I haven't even entered negotiations," Del Nido said. "To say that I won't drop his price is a lie because all prices are negotiable, but with this player the room for movement is little.
"Until a deal is reached, the player will see out his contract."
Alves has four years left on his deal and has been linked with FC Barcelona a year after Del Nido turned down a reported 33 million (then-US$44.3 million) offer from English club Chelsea.
Alves has been at Sevilla since 2003 and won back-to-back UEFA Cups and a Copa del Rey trophy with the Andalucian club.