Barcelona have begun preliminary talks with goalkeeper Victor Valdes over a new contract. Sport says the process began a few weeks ago with several meetings between the father of the player, who is also his agent, Jose Manuel Valdes, and the club's sporting director, Txiki Begiristain.

At these meetings, the major foundations of the new contract were formalised, but according to sources it is still at an early stage.

All signs are that Valdes will receive a four-year contract extension and with his current deal expiring in 2010, Barca want the goalkeeper to remain at the Nou Camp until 2014.