JULY 3
Liverpool intent on keeping Gerrard

Sporting Life

Champions League winners Liverpool remain determined to keep skipper Steven Gerrard at Anfield.

Widespread reports have surfaced claiming Gerrard feels he is being forced out of the club because Reds chief executive Rick Parry has failed to open contract negotiations as quickly as he hoped.

The influential midfielder indicated his desire to stay at Anfield in the immediate aftermath of Liverpool's stunning European Cup triumph over AC Milan in May and thought the issue would be dealt with almost instantly.

Instead, just 10 days away from Rafael Benitez's men beginning the defence of their trophy against Welsh minnows Total Network Solutions, Gerrard is no nearer agreeing a new deal.

The 25-year-old has two years remaining on his contract and Parry knows unless his future is resolved one way or another this summer, his vast market value will begin to plummet.

Chelsea and Real Madrid are both rumoured to be monitoring developments, although Liverpool spokesman Ian Cotton insists the Merseyside giants do not want to lose their talisman.

"Our position is very clear," he said.

"We want Gerrard to stay at the club."

As a lifelong Liverpool fan, Gerrard would be reluctant to leave Anfield, although he does know he could probably land a more lucrative contract elsewhere such would be the demand for his services.

With seemingly no end to the impasse in sight, it will be interesting to see whether Benitez selects Gerrard for the first leg of the TNS clash.

Even though the Spaniard knows his side should comfortably see off the Welsh champions with or without their captain, Gerrard's absence would almost certainly be interpreted as an attempt to retain his current £30million value by not getting him cup-tied.

There is some better news for Liverpool fans with the arrival of out of contract Dutchman Boudewijn Zenden from Middlesbrough.

The former Chelsea star was an influential figure in Boro securing a UEFA Cup spot last term and has been targeted by Benitez as a replacement for Vladimir Smicer.

JULY 2
Zenden agrees Reds move

By Graeme Bailey - Sky Sports

Liverpool have confirmed that Boudewijn Zenden has agreed to join them after departing Middlesbrough.

The Dutch international failed to agree a new contract with Boro and has now left The Riverside Stadium after two seasons.

He signed a one-year deal with the Teessiders last summer after spending a season on loan - but Boro failed to convince him his future would be best served with them.

Zenden has now agreed terms with Liverpool after passing a medical and will be unveiled by the European champions on Monday.

"Bolo Zenden has passed his medical. We have reached an agreement with the player and expect the contract to be signed on Monday morning," said Reds spokesman Ian Cotton.

The news will be a blow, if not a shock, to Boro boss Steve McClaren who will now be looking to bring in a replacement.

Zenden first arrived at Boro as a left winger, but he was converted into central midfield by McClaren following the emergence of Stewart Downing.

JULY 1
Gerrard did not hint at Real deal

By Mandeep Sanghera - BBC Sport Online

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has not told manager Rafael Benitez he is tempted by Real Madrid's interest, BBC Sport understands.

Spanish newspaper As claims midfielder Gerrard, 25, has told Benitez he wants to leave Anfield for the Bernabeu.

But it is believed no such meeting took place - and indeed Gerrard is in talks over extending the two years left on his current Reds deal.

Real also announced on Friday they had signed Pablo Garcia, a similar player.

The As article claims that when Benitez asked if Gerrard wanted to stay at Liverpool the player replied: "We'll have to see. The interest from Madrid is extremely tempting.

"The offer from Madrid is very special. It is difficult to say no to them. If I were to stay in England, I would only play for Liverpool."

Liverpool have refused to comment on whether this conversation took place.

As claimed that Real are willing to more than double Gerrard's wages and will pay him over £8m a year.

JULY 1
Liverpool quiet on Gerrard claims

BBC Sport Online

Liverpool are refusing to comment on reports that skipper Steven Gerrard is on his way to Spanish side Real Madrid.

Reports in Spanish newspaper As says Gerrard, 25, will be the latest to join the Galacticos at the Bernabeu.

The report quoted Gerrard as saying he is tempted to leave Anfield for Madrid during talks with Reds boss Rafael Benitez about his future.

However, Real's website says they have signed Uruguay midfielder Pablo Garcia, who is a similar player to Gerrard.

The report in As says Gerrard ruled out any chance of a move to Chelsea and that if he does depart Anfield it will be for a club outside England.

Madrid have brought in a high-profile name for the last five years and As says that they have earmarked Gerrard as this summer's big money move.

JULY 1
Gonzalez speeding in as Diao eyes departure

By Ian Doyle - Daily Post Staff

Rafael Benitez's squad rebuilding took another step last night when Liverpool sealed a deal for winger Mark Gonzalez.

The 20-year-old Chile international has agreed a one-year loan from relegated Spanish outfit Albacete with a view to a permanent £4.9million deal.

Gonzalez is currently sidelined with a cruciate knee ligament injury sustained against Levante on May 8.

However, the South African-born midfielder is expected to be fit by October and that has persuaded Benitez to bring forward an anticipated January move for the player.

With the transfer window reopening today, Liverpool are expected to tie up two further deals within the next few days.

Spanish goalkeeper Jose Reina will finally confirm his long-touted £8m move from Villarreal while Boudewijn Zenden will arrive at Anfield for talks after his contract with Middlesbrough expired last night.

Benitez's extensive squad restructuring has forced Salif Diao to contemplate his future at the club, with the player's agent claiming a number of clubs are interested in the 28-year-old.

Senegalese midfielder Diao was signed by former manager Gerard Houllier from Sedan for £5m three years ago but has found himself surplus to requirements under Benitez, and was loaned to Birmingham City earlier this year.

And his agent Charles Collymore said: "I am currently looking at options for Salif and there are clubs from Spain and England looking at him.

"Salif has two years left on his contract, but I believe if he was to receive a good offer he would consider it.

"Salif is keen to be playing first-team football regularly and we will look at the options with the transfer window open for two months."

Benitez also continues to bolster Liverpool's youth set-up and has taken highly-rated Lincoln City defender Jack Hobbs on trial.

The 16-year-old will spend next week training with the European Cup winners before signing a permanent deal if the spell proves successful.

Liverpool made their move after a proposed switch to Arsenal broke down when the Gunners were believed to have refused to include a sell-on clause in the compensation package.

Lincoln executive director Keith Rowe said: "Arsenal started moving the goalposts and wanted one or two points taken out of the contract that we had verbally agreed.

"Liverpool made their interest known 10 days ago and have conducted themselves superbly. We are delighted with how quickly things have been agreed with Liverpool."

Benitez was alarmed by the underachievement last season at both reserve and Academy level, and has already moved this summer for 16-year-old central defender Miquel Roque from Spanish side Lleida and 18-year-old Sevilla full-back Antonio Barragan.

JUNE 30
Liverpool open talks with Gerrard and Carragher

By Richard Williamson - Daily Post

Liverpool have opened talks on new contracts for both Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.

The influential pair have two years left on their existing deals and are both represented by agent Struan Marshall. An initial meeting was held with Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry yesterday. Talks were described as "constructive" with further meetings planned.

There will be a clear sense of urgency surrounding the talks on Gerrard's future. With the first qualifying round in the Champions League looming large on July 13, Liverpool won't want to be left in the same predicament that saw Michael Owen left sitting on the bench in the third qualifying round against Grazer AK last year.

There is a will on both sides to secure Gerrard's continued presence at Anfield, but Chelsea and Real Madrid continue to monitor the crucial discussions that are now underway between the two parties.

Gerrard has already indicated he wants matters resolving before the start of the new campaign, a stance that suits Liverpool, who remain confident of being able to match their inspirational captain's ambitions for the future rather than lose him to another club.

Carragher's stock has risen considerably since being switched to the centre of the Liverpool defence, and a string of determined performances at both home and abroad helped Liverpool's season finish with the crowning glory of Champions League success against AC Milan in Istanbul in May.

Meanwhile Bolton say they are prepared to resist any overtures from Liverpool for Stelios Giannakopoulos. Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce insists one of his top priorities is to secure the Greece international on a new contract.

Reports in his homeland suggested the Euro 2004 winner was on the verge of a £1million move to Liverpool in a two-year deal.

Rafael Benitez had inquired about the 30-year-old, who has one year left on his contract, as part of the deal which took El Hadji Diouf to The Reebok but the impending arrival of the versatile Boudewijn Zenden, who can play in a number of roles, looks more likely to cool his interest. Liverpool will make their move for Zenden when his present deal with Middlesbrough expires tonight.

JUNE 29
Benitez's rebuilding begins with Zenden

By Ian Doyle - Daily Post Staff

Liverpool will open talks with Boudewijn Zenden on Friday as Rafael Benitez steps up his squad rebuilding.

The 28-year-old is out of contract at Middlesbrough at the end of the week after failing to agree a new deal with the Teesiders.

Portuguese side Benfica have been linked with Zenden in recent weeks, while clubs from Spain, Turkey and Greece are all under-stood to be interested.

But Liverpool have moved into pole position in the race to sign the versatile midfielder, who has been swayed by the promise of Champions League football.

And the player's father Pierre is confident Zenden's future will be sorted within the next week.

"Money is not an issue for Boudewijn," he said.

"Where the club stands in terms of Champions League or UEFA Cup is really important.

"He is a free agent on Friday, but we expect to be able to announce something early next week." Liverpool manager Benitez is keen to attract players to the club with Premiership experience in the hope of improving the inconsistent form his team showed in the league last season.

Zenden has spent four years in England, joining Chelsea from Barcelona in 2001 and then moving to Middlesbrough on a season-long loan in 2003 before signing a one-year contract last year.

Liverpool are monitoring developments with wantaway Real Madrid midfielder Luis Figo, but the Portuguese international would have to agree to a huge drop in his salary before Benitez will even consider making a move.

Departing from Anfield once more is midfielder Bruno Cheyrou, who will link up with former team-mate Vladimir Smicer at Bordeaux after agreeing a one-year loan with a view to a permanent move.

Cheyrou, 27, joined Liverpool for £3.7million from Lille in 2002 before being loaned to Marseille, where he featured in 19 matches last season.

Meanwhile, Benitez has sought to bolster his backroom staff with the arrival of a new fitness coach from Spain.

Enrique Sanz held such a position with newly-promoted Spanish side Hercules, but has now been lured to Anfield.

"I was speaking with Benitez and he bombarded me with questions," said Sanz.

"The following day they proposed the move to me.

"I would be the right-hand man for Ayestaran (Paco, Benitez's assistant) in the first team, and to prepare the reserve team."

JUNE 29
Liverpool open talks with Gerrard

BBC Sport Online

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will open talks about a new long-term Anfield contract on Wednesday.

Gerrard's agent, Struan Marshall, is scheduled to meet Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry in a bid to finally thrash out a deal.

Real Madrid and Chelsea have both been linked with 25-year-old, but Liverpool are confident he will stay at Anfield.

Gerrard's current contract at Liverpool expires in June 2007 and he is expected to be offered an £80,000-a-week deal.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is desperate to keep Gerrard at the heart of his Champions League-winning side as he rebuilds for the future.

Gerrard's Liverpool career has been at the centre of constant speculation, and he was poised to complete a £31m move to Chelsea last summer before a late change of heart.

But Liverpool are hopeful of a swift resolution to the saga once they start serious negotiations with his representatives.

Gerrard returned to pre-season training with Liverpool on Monday, and has insisted he wants his future resolved well before the start of the new campaign.

JUNE 28
Reds: It's no go Figo

By David Prentice - Liverpool Echo

Liverpool retain a passing interest in Real Madrid's unsettled Galactico, Luis Figo, but the Portuguese midfielder would have to drop his pay demands dramatically to secure a move to Anfield.

Fresh reports have claimed that Anfield officials had opened discussions with Figo's representatives.

But Reds chief executive Rick Parry cooled transfer talk over the midfielder today.

He confirmed there could be an interest in bringing Figo to the club, but not while his wages remained at a prohibitive £90,000 per week.

There was no official comment on Steven Gerrard's contract situation, but talks are believed to be starting this week. No comment will be made by any of the parties concerned until there is a resolution.

Boss Rafael Benitez, meanwhile, is continuing to scour Europe for striking reinforcements.

Priced out of moves for his first choice targets Dirk Kuyt at Feyenoord and Peter Crouch at Southampton, he was reported today to have switched his attentions to Lyon forward Sidney Govou.

Chief executive Parry said, however, that a deal for the 25-year-old was "very unlikely."

Goalkeeper Jose Reina is expected to complete his £8m move from Villarreal before the July 6 Champions League qualifying round deadline, making him eligible to make his debut against Total Network Solutions if necessary.

JUNE 27
Rafa demands Reds' improvement

ITV Football

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has warned his players they face a rigorous pre-season as he focuses on producing "a fitter, stronger" side for the new season.

The European champions were forced back into training on Monday as a consequence of their Champions League final victory over AC Milan just over a month ago.

Liverpool were granted special dispensation by UEFA to defend the trophy despite their fifth-placed finish in last season's Premiership being only enough to qualify for the UEFA Cup.

The flip side for Benitez is that his players must now start their season in 15 days' time with a first-round qualifying tie against Welsh champions TNS at Anfield.

It means a 10-month season looms for the Reds, yet their manager is promising no let-up early on as he is eager to ensure his players are not found wanting when it comes to stamina.

"We need to train harder at the start and change the culture of pre-season here," he insisted in the Liverpool Echo. "If we sign new players after today, they will have to start afresh.

"But I want all the players to show the right mentality from the very beginning of pre-season and this will make it easier for them throughout the rest of the year.

"I'm sure you will see a fitter, stronger Liverpool this season," Benitez promised as he seeks to build on last season's success and produce a team capable of consistently challenging for honours.

JUNE 27
Kirkland completes West Brom loan move

By David Prentice - Liverpool Echo

Liverpool's imminent £8m capture of goal-keeper Jose Reina, has spelled the end of the road at Anfield for another big money shot-stopper.

Chris Kirkland has left the Reds to join West Bromwich Albion on a season-long loan.

Rated the brightest young goalkeeper of his generation when he left Coventry for £6m in 2001, he made just 45 first-team appearances - largely due to some wretched luck with injuries.

Kirkland looked like establishing himself as first choice under Rafael Benitez when he made 10 first team appearances last autumn. But a back injury interrupted his progress, let Jerzy Dudek back in, and he failed to figure again.

Agent Chris Gordon said last night: "Chris feels Albion and the Premiership is the place
to be.

"It is an exciting opportunity for him at Albion. They will get a top quality goalkeeper.

"He wants to show that he is fit again and is ready to establish himself in the Premiership and as an England player. The World Cup finals next year are very much in his mind.

"The medical will hold no fears for Chris. He feels fantastic and has real confidence in his back for the first time in ages."

JUNE 27
Liverpool return to make Reina first signing

By Ian Doyle - Daily Post

Liverpool report back for pre-season training today - with Jose Reina poised to become Rafael Benitez's first signing of the summer.

The Spanish goal-keeper was believed to be on Merseyside last night ahead of visiting Anfield today to begin talks over an £8million move from Villarreal.

Arsenal have recently been linked with the 22-year-old, but Benitez has long been in pole position in the race for the highly-rated shot-stopper. And now Liverpool are ready to tie up a deal for a player they have been chasing since January.

With Chris Kirkland primed to move to West Bromwich Albion on a season-long loan after turning down a similar offer from Scottish giants Celtic, Benitez is keen to bolster his goal-keeping options.

No player can be officially unveiled until the transfer window reopens on July 1, but Reina would be allowed to train with his new team-mates this week in preparation for the Champions League first qualifying round match against TNS Llansantffraid in a fortnight.

Liverpool are also closing in on another target, Bolton Wanderers midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos.

Reports in Greece yesterday suggesting that a £1m deal is close to completion with a two-year deal on offer for the Euro 2004 winner.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce wants the player to stay, but with Stelios having just a year remaining on his contract, the Trotters may be forced to cash in now on the 30-year-old.

Benitez is also monitoring the situation of Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Arteta with Everton yet to agree a deal to sign the player, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Goodison.

However, Benitez is unlikely to make a move for Luis Figo, despite Spanish radio last night reporting the Real Madrid midfielder is poised to state he is joining Liverpool after his agent announced that the Portuguese international will name any new club in the next few days.

Benitez has already stated that he would not be signing any players from the Bernabeu, and has previously distanced himself from the speculation linking him with a move for Figo.

Thor Zakariassen ©