Barca replace Real in Davids hunt

FC Barcelona are prepared to take over Real Madrid's position in the race to sign Dutch international midfielder Edgar Davids from Juventus.

Unsettled Davids is expected to move in the summer after only eighteen months in Turin and was a top target for his former mentor Guus Hiddink at European club champions Real. Hiddink was fired on Tuesday and has been replaced with John Toshack and this has cooled Real's interest in the midfield tackler. English champions Arsenal have now been joined by Barca in the competition for the highly rated player to sign. If Toshack does not see out his contract with Real Madrid until June 2000 then club president Lorenzo Sanz would still try to persuade Fabio Capello to return to the Spanish capital. He is not an admirer of Davids and sold him to Juventus after only five months with AC Milan.