|
|
|
|
SUNDAY 3 |
|
|
Traore set for Reds talks
Djimi Traore is set to hold contract extension talks with
Liverpool next week.
The 25-year-old is keen to extend his Anfield stay and says
The Reds hold the key to his long-term future.
Traore has been with Liverpool since joining from Leval in
February 1999, although he has spent time on loan with Lens.
The French stopper appeared on his way out of the club last
summer, but was given a new lease of life under Rafa
Benitez.
"It all depends whether the club wants me," explained
Traore.
(Sky Sports)
Liverpool intent on keeping Gerrard
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.
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."
(Sporting Life)
Pellegrino signs for Alaves
Argentine defender Mauricio Pellegrino has signed for
Spanish side Deportivo Alaves as they prepare to enter the
Primera Liga after winning promotion at the end of last
season, the club said on Sunday.
The 33-year-old centre half was released last month by
European champions Liverpool after playing 12 Premier League
games for the club.
A substitute appearance for his previous club Valencia in
the early rounds of the Champions League made Pellegrino
ineligible to take part in Liverpool's triumphant European
campaign.
Pellegrino was twice on the losing side in a Champions
League final with Valencia but came on as a late substitute
when the club won the UEFA Cup in 2004.
Alaves gave no details of his contract on their website.
(Reuters)
New contract for Carra
Jamie Carragher is all set to sign a new contract with
Liverpool.
Carragher currently has two years left to run on his present
contract but after the way he played last season the club
are keen to sign him up on a longer deal and started talks
as soon as Carragher returned to pre-season training.
The talks with Rick Parry have been described as
'constructive' by both sides and Liverpool's player of the
season is expected to put pen to paper any time now.
(LFC Online)
TNS rule out Rushie return
Welsh outfit Total Network Solutions have ruled out the
possibility of signing Anfield legend Ian Rush to play
against Liverpool in their Champions League first round
qualifier.
It had been rumoured that Rushie would make an amazing
return to competitive football by lining up against his
former club, but this scenario has been quashed by TNS
chairman Mike Harris.
He said: "We will not be signing any big name players just
for the Liverpool ties."
(LFC Official Website)
Press still pushing Gerrard transfer
The media are still reporting that Steven Gerrard is set to
leave Liverpool despite the player insisting he wants to
remain a Red.
Gerrard is currently in talks with Rick Parry about signing
a contract extension. However, since Real Madrid have
expressed an interest in signing Gerrard certain newspapers
are reporting the talks are in crisis.
The tabloids have decided that Friday's contract talks hit a
low point and Gerrard now has his heart set on a move to
Spain despite not talking to the player or his agent.
(LFC Online) |
|
|
SATURDAY 2 |
|
|
Zenden agrees Reds move
Liverpool have confirmed that Boudewijn Zenden has agreed to
join them after departing Middlesbrough.
Zenden has now agreed terms with Liverpool after passing a
medical and will be unveiled by the European champions on
Monday.
(Sky Sports)
Gonzales exited by dream move
Anfield bound winger Mark Gonzales has admitted he can't
wait for his 'dream' move to Merseyside to be finalised.
The Reds are in talks with Albacete over a season long loan
deal for the speedy winger with a view to signing him on a
permanent contract.
No deal has yet been agreed but the 20 year old Chilean
international, who is currently sidelined with a cruciate
knee ligament injury, is hoping he will soon be able to
celebrate the biggest move of his short career.
He said: "Until everything is signed I don't want to get too
excited, but it's a dream move.
"I knew Liverpool were interested in me but after the injury
I thought everything had changed.
"To go from being injured at a second division Spanish side
to the European champions is like winning the lottery.
"Negotiations are very advanced and I know if I go there on
loan I will make the most of it. I'll be going there for
good."
(LFC Official Website) |
|
|
FRIDAY 1 |
|
|
Czechs fail in Reds appeal
Slavia Prague have criticised Uefa after their appeal
against the decision to seed Liverpool in the first
preliminary round of the Champions League was rejected.
Slavia, runners-up to Sparta Prague in the Gambrinus Liga,
lost their seeding in the third qualifying round when the
decision was taken to admit European champions Liverpool to
the competition by special dispensation.
Slavia and the Czech Football Federation appealed against
the decision, which will cost them a seeding when they enter
in the third round of qualifying, but to no avail.
Slavia general manager Vladimir Leska said: "The reply sent
to us from Uefa management was shocking for us.
"If Uefa solves an irregular situation about the defending
champions it should not harm the other clubs.
"We still believe that an acceptable solution will be found,
a solution that will avoid harming of our club as regards
seeding in the third preliminary round."
Croatian champions Hajduk Split have also protested against
the decision, which cost them a seeding in the second
preliminary round.
(TEAMtalk)
ITV2 to screen TNS match live
ITV2 have secured the rights to broadcast the first leg of
the first round Champions Leage qualifier against Total
Network Solutions from Anfield on Wednesday 13th July.
The second leg on 19th July will also be shown by the
network.
ITV has also secured the rights to the home legs of
Liverpool's second and third round qualifying matches with
those games to be shown either on ITV1 or ITV2.
(Kop Talk)
Gerrard did not hint at Real deal
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.
(BBC Sport Online)
TNS limber up for Reds with an Irish test
It's the battle of the champions tomorrow when TNS continue
their build-up for their Liverpool showdown with a friendly
against Glentoran at Treflan (6pm).
With just 12 days remaining before the Champions League
qualifier against the Anfield men, the Welsh Premier hosts
will be eager to make their mark against the Irish league
winners.
There should be plenty of interest in the encounter with the
visitors expecting to bring more than 300 supporters who
will be staying in Oswestry over the weekend.
"This is a real Celtic battle with the champions of Wales
taking on the champions of Ireland," said Saints manager Ken
McKenna. "It's certainly a good game to look forward to for
both sides.
"We want to put on a good performance, and make sure we
prepare as well as we can for the Liverpool game.
Llansantffraid-based TNS opened their pre-season campaign
with a 2-1 friendly success over an Anglesey XI last weekend
while their final warm-up game before taking on Liverpool
will be at Portadown next Tuesday.
(Scropshire Star)
Liverpool quiet on Gerrard claims
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.
(BBC Sport Online)
Gonzalez speeding in as Diao eyes departure
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.
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.
(Daily Post)
|
|
Thor Zakariassen
© |
|
