Valencia are stepping up interest in unwanted Barcelona midfielder Alex Song, reports claim.

Mundo Deportivo say Los Che have turned to Song after deciding against pursuing Bologna’s Amadou Diawara, when it became clear the Serie A club weren’t going to let him leave.

Song has spent the last two seasons on loan at West Ham after a 2012 move to Camp Nou from Arsenal, the Cameroon international costing some €19m.

His contract runs to 2017 but Luis Enrique has told the Barca decision-makers he isn’t in his plans and Barca are hoping to sell.

Valencia are interested but the price threatens to be a sticking block, as Barca would like €10m but Valencia don’t want to go past €5m for a player who has barely featured for the Catalans since his arrival.