Barcelona president Joan Laporta revealed his club have been put off making an immediate bid for Liverpool striker Milan Baros - although he did not rule out a future move for the player.

Baros's agent had earlier claimed the Catalans were "truly interested" in the Czech Republic player but Laporta was keen to quell rumours of an imminent offer.

The 22-year-old was the top scorer at Euro 2004 with five goals and Laporta told Spanish sports daily Marca: "Baros had a great tournament, and all great players have a chance of playing for Barca.

"But not this season. The high price makes signing him very difficult." Earlier, Marca reported that Barcelona and Liverpool had agreed a four-year deal in principle to take Baros to the Nou Camp, and the player's agent Pavel Paska told reporters of Barcelona's interest.

But Laporta said Samuel Eto'o - who is part-owned by Real Madrid and Real Mallorca - remained the club's priority.

The Cameroon striker has spent the last four seasons on loan at Mallorca, where he scored 17 goals in 31 Primera Liga matches. "Eto'o wants to play for Barcelona," said Laporta. "We are very pleased with his attitude; he wants to come here but the deal is very complicated.

"First, Real Madrid and Real Mallorca must reach an agreement on his situation."

Juan Pablo Angel yesterday pledged his future to Aston Villa by signing a new four-year contract. Negotiations which started with Angel towards the end of last season have finally been concluded, and the Colombia international has tied himself to the club until 2008.

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill, who was at Buckingham Palace yesterday to collect an OBE for services to football from Britain's Queen Elizabeth, has assured Hoops fans he will be in charge of the side next season.

Greece captain, Theo Zagorakis has signed a two-year contract with Italian side Bologna.

The former Leicester midfielder, voted player of the tournament after leading his country to success at Euro 2004, was made a free agent by cash-strapped AEK Athens.

Real Madrid coach Jose Antonio Camacho yesterday revealed that Porto's central defender Ricardo Carvalho and Roma's Brazilian international midfielder Emerson were two possible arrivals at the Bernabeu.

The Real coach told the club's official website: "I am only the coach and I don't sign players but Carvalho and Emerson are names that are out there and that interests us."