Barcelona, June 26: Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert is locked in talks with Barcelona about his future at the club. The Catalan giants want the 26-year-old to agree to reduce his wage, believed to be about £4.2m a year.

Kluivert's contract does not expire until 2005 but there is a clause which allows Barcelona to halve his annual salary.
According to reports in the Spanish press the Dutch international is not willing to accept a reduced wage and has threatened to quit the club.
"If they want to cut my salary then they'll have a problem," Kluivert was quoted as saying in the Mundo Deportivo newspaper. Kluivert's agent Sigi Lens has stirred speculation by linking the Dutch international with a move to Manchester United, Arsenal and Newcastle United.
The striker insisted last month that he wanted to stay at Barcelona despite their disappointing run in La Liga and subsequent failure to qualify for the Champions League.



It is the first time that Kluivert has sat down for negotiations with new Barcelona president Joan Laporta.



It has been suggested that the appointment of fellow Dutchman Frank Rijkaard as the Barcelona coach could persuade Kluivert to see out his contract at the Nou Camp.

Bureau Report