Barcelona on verge of signing Gudjohnsen

CHELSEA have confirmed they have given permission for striker Eidur Gudjohnsen to travel to Spain to discuss a move to Barcelona.

The Spaniards are expected to complete the £8 million signing of Gudjohnsen from Chelsea in the next 48 hours.

Iceland international Gudjohnsen will be offered a three-year contract at the Nou Camp subject to agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.

Gudjohnsen has been at Chelsea for six years but coach Jose Mourinho admitted that the club would listen to offers after he failed to figure regularly in the Blues’ first team last season.

His arrival will end Barca’s search for a replacement for Swedish striker Henrik Larsson, who will turn out for former club Helsingborg next season.

Gudjohnsen’s expected departure could be followed by Portuguese defender Ricardo Carvalho, with Real Madrid a possible destination.

Carvalho will be a target, along with several other Chelsea players, depending on the outcome of the presidential elections in the capital.

Presidential candidates Ramon Calderon and Juan Palacios have both insisted they would like the Portugal international if elected, with possible sporting director Jose Antonio Camacho adding: “If we won the elections I predict we would speak to Chelsea for several players.”

Meanwhile, Barcelona midfielder Deco has told former boss Mourinho that he has no plans to link-up with him again at Chelsea.

The Portugal playmaker has been consistently linked with a move to the Barclays Premiership champions in a swap deal that would see Chelsea’s England midfielder Frank Lampard going in the other direction.

However, Deco, who played under Mourinho at Porto, insists he has everything he wants in Spain and has no desire to give it all up for London.

Deco said: “Why would I want to leave? I am happy at my club and in the city, people love me and I have just won a Champions League and a Primera Liga title.”