Hleb nearing Barca move - agent

Alexander Hleb's representative claims a deal to take the Arsenal player to Barcelona "is close".

Vincenzo Morabito told Spanish newspaper Marca that his client had been hoping for a move to Inter Milan, a transfer he claims has been scuppered by the appointment of Jose Mourinho as coach of the Italian champions. However, Morabito claims that instead Hleb will now turn his attention to Barca.

"(A deal) is close. He has been a Barcelona target for some months," he was quoted as saying in Marca. "I'm sorry that we won't be able to take him to Italy, he liked Inter a lot but obviously Mourinho has made some different choices and has gone for some other names."

Arsenal threatened to report Inter to FIFA in March after claiming an illegal approach was made for the Belarus international, who was also recently linked with a move to Spanish champions Real Madrid.

Last week reports in the Spanish media claimed that Barcelona technical director Txiki Begiristain had travelled to Germany to hold talks with Hleb while he was on international duty.