JANUARY 21
Carson seals switch to Liverpool

BBC Sport Online

Leeds goalkeeper Scott Carson has completed his £1m transfer to Liverpool, signing a four-and-a-half year deal at Anfield.

The 19-year-old chose Liverpool ahead of a move to Chelsea, and will provide competition for Jerzy Dudek.

Carson said: "It's a relief that everything has been completed. I'm delighted to be here and can't wait to get started."

Liverpool's 20-year-old keeper Paul Harrison has moved to Leeds on loan.

Harrison, who was the only cover for Dudek while Chris Kirkland was out injured, will spend a month at Elland Road.

The Reds Academy graduate, who has yet to make a first-team appearance at Anfield, could make the transfer to Leeds permanent if he impresses.

Leeds spokesman Bryan Morris said: "We wish Scott the very best. He has proven himself to be a top-class keeper during his time at Leeds United and we are sure he will continue to impress at Anfield.

"His steady nerve in pressure situations and his professionalism on and off the pitch will ensure he has a bright future ahead of him."

"Hopefully I can settle in quickly, impress the manager and become an important member of the squad," added Carson.

"It's all happened very quickly. I never anticipated being here at Liverpool so soon in my career.

"I only played a few games for Leeds and expected to be there a bit longer. Things never worked out that way though and when Liverpool showed an interest in me I was overwhelmed.

"Just the fact that it's a massive club and the manager is building for the future. This club is on the up and I want to be part of that.

"I've worked with the likes of Nigel Martyn and Paul Robinson, so I've learnt things from them. Now I'll be training alongside two more great goalkeepers in Jerzy Dudek and Chris Kirkland, so hopefully that will help bring my game on even more.

"I'm sure there's a lot I can learn from them. They are two exceptional keepers and it's going to be a great experience working with them."

JANUARY 20
Reds win race to capture Carson

By Chris Bascombe - Liverpool Echo

Liverpool have won the chase to sign highly-rated Leeds goalkeeper Scott Carson.

Leeds United today confirmed the 19-year-old was heading to Merseyside for a medical this afternoon, with a view to moving to Anfield in a deal believed to be worth £600,000.

Sources in London have also accepted Chelsea have lost out in their bid for Carson, who told the Stamford Bridge club he'd prefer to move to Liverpool.

Manager Rafael Benitez is hopeful of registering Carson before Saturday's trip to Southampton, where the teenager can expect to immediately be included in the squad, initially as cover to Jerzy Dudek.

Carson - a Liverpool fan - decided against a move to London after talks with the Reds boss.

The prospect of forcing his way into the Anfield starting line-up are clearly much better than at Stamford Bridge, where Petr Cech is firmly established as number one.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho had indicated he would send Carson on loan if he chose to join him, whereas Liverpool are in need of immediate goalkeeping reinforcement.

The long-term futures of both Chris Kirkland and Jerzy Dudek remain uncertain and speculation is sure to intensify following Carson's arrival.

JANUARY 20
Parry pleased with new signings

By Al Campbell - LFC Online

Chief Executive Rick Parry says he is thrilled with Rafael Benitez' January signings.

Fernando Morientes and Mauricio Pellegrino have already signed and Leeds goalkeeper Scott Carson is set to put pen to paper today. Both Morientes and Pellegrino are expected to play against Southampton this weekend.

Parry said: "Morientes is a proven player. His arrival means we have last season's Champions League top scorer and the top scorer from the European Championships in Milan Baros.

"In terms of quality, Fernando ticks all the boxes. He is good in the air, he is intelligent and can play as a target man or as a second forward. He is versatile with a proven goalscoring record.

"The fact that Morientes was keen to come here is partly linked with the standing of our club in the European game. At the same time, he also has a real respect for Rafa.

"I am excited about the Morientes deal, but I'm also excited about Pellegrino as well for different reasons. He is strong mentally. He has a real will to win. He's used to winning trophies. Like Fernando, he has all the right attributes."

JANUARY 18
Benitez steps up Carson bid

TEAMtalk

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez insists Leeds goalkeeper Scott Carson would be best served switching to Anfield instead of Stamford Bridge.

Benitez has stepped up his bid to land the youngster although Chelsea show no sign of relenting in their own pursuit of the England Under-21 international.

"We've been talking about Carson for some time," said Benitez. "I feel that coming here would be a good opportunity for him because here he can play more games.

"If you see the other team [Chelsea], they have a very good young goalkeeper. If I had to make that decision, I would go to Liverpool.

"Carson is the first option. A week ago I was confident we would get him, but now I don't know.

"But we have made a good offer and he will play more games here. He knows we really want him and he is a Liverpool fan," Benitez told Liverpool's official club website.

JANUARY 12
Reds agree Morientes fee

ITV Football

Spain international Fernando Morientes is finally on his way to Liverpool, according to Real Madrid.

The 28-year-old, one of Europe's leading strikers last season while on loan at Champions League finalists Monaco, has been pushing for a move to join the Reds' former Valencia coach Rafael Benitez.

Madrid said in a statement on their website: "Real Madrid and Liverpool have reached an agreement for the transfer of Fernando Morientes to the English club for a total price of 9million euros (£6.3million).

"This afternoon the player will travel to Liverpool to undergo a medical that he will have to take tomorrow morning.

"The club has also confirmed that Fernando Morientes, accompanied by (vice-president) Emilio Butragueno and (sporting director) Arrigo Sacchi, will hold a press conference to announce his departure to the Premier League."

Morientes' agent Gines Carvajal told PA International: "The player has signed a four and a half year contract and he is delighted to be joining as great a club as Liverpool."

Liverpool boss Benitez has had his fair share of bad luck with strikers this season, with Djibril Cisse suffering a double break of his leg against Blackburn which is likely to keep him out for the rest of the season, while Milan Baros has been affected by a hamstring injury.

However, suddenly things are looking brighter for Benitez and the quality of Morientes will be a huge boost, as will the strength and quality of new defender Mauricio Pellegrino, signed on a free transfer from Valencia earlier this week.

Providing there are no hold-ups with paperwork and international clearance, Morientes is in line to make his debut against Manchester United on Saturday.

Benitez has been chasing Morientes for weeks and claims French club Lyon had attempted to hijack the deal yesterday with a higher bid have proved unfounded.

Morientes is believed to have told Benitez that if he was not going to be allowed to fulfil his dream of moving to Anfield, he would prefer to stay at the Bernabeu.

JANUARY 12
Blues and Reds battle for Carson

Sporting Life

Premiership heavyweights Chelsea and Liverpool are to slug it out for the services of Leeds goalkeeper Scott Carson.

Officials from both clubs are to meet with Leeds over the next 48 hours to discuss the prospect of signing the England Under-21 international, who is likely to leave Elland Road for a fee of around £1million.

The 19-year-old, who is out of contract in the summer, was left bitterly disappointed by the offer from Leeds of a new two-and-a-half-year deal last month, believing the club had every intention of selling him.

That was immediately rejected and Leeds now look certain to cash in on one of their few remaining assets, with a conclusion likely to be reached by the end of the week.

The Championship club recently turned down a bid of £250,000 from Liverpool who are keen to sign Carson, with manager Rafael Benitez a known admirer, particularly with Chris Kirkland out for the rest of the season after undergoing back surgery last week.

The question is how much the Reds have left in their kitty following the capture of defender Mauricio Pellegrino from Valencia last week and with Benitez poised to sign Fernando Morientes from Real Madrid.

Carson is understood to prefer a move to Anfield as it is closer to his family home in Cumbria but he may find it difficult to resist the financial lure of Chelsea, who finally entered the bidding on Tuesday.

It is understood Jose Mourinho is prepared to offload Carlo Cudicini, either during the current transfer window or in the summer, allowing Carson to become understudy to Petr Cech.

Either move would represent a remarkable one for Carson, who only has two first-team appearances under his belt, albeit distinguishing himself against Manchester United and Chelsea last season.

But the money is crucial to Leeds' survival as the threat of administration hangs over the club before the end of this season if they are unable to find a new buyer, although it is hoped talks with Sebastien Sainsbury will progress over the next few days.

Thor Zakariassen ©