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FRIDAY 3 |
Michael Owen set
for Man Utd move
Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has officially signed
for Manchester United.
Michael Owen’s agents sent out a brochure about the player
to all Premier League managers and it seems that Alex
Ferguson feels that the former Liverpool man may be just
what he needs.
Michael Owen left Liverpool for Real Madrid without playing
a single game under new manager Rafa Benitez in a desire to
win trophies but the move turned disastrous as the player
lost his England place and failed to land
a single honour since – as he watched Liverpool go on to win
a 5th European cup.
Rafa Benitez was presented with an opportunity to bring Owen
back from Spain, but decided to wait until the summer to
capture
Fernando Torres instead.
Owen played 297 times for Liverpool.
(Anfield Online)
Rush backs Owen to succeed
Ian Rush has admitted he would have preferred to see Michael
Owen return to Liverpool - but expects him to be a success
at Old Trafford.
The England striker is set to secure a shock switch to
Liverpool's rivals Manchester United after his contract at
Newcastle expired.
The move will send shockwaves through the game but Rush
knows that Owen has not been courted by Liverpool because he
is not needed by boss Rafael Benitez.
"Personally, I'd like to have seen him at Liverpool but they
haven't lost their best strikers," Rush told Sky Sports
News. "He (manager Rafael Benitez) will be happy with what
he's got."
(TEAMtalk)
Kenny Dalglish rejoins Liverpool FC
Kenny Dalglish said he was “very excited, but a bit nervous”
after his return to Liverpool was officially confirmed
today.
The Anfield legend will assume a senior role at the
Liverpool Academy and will also act as a club ambassador. He
will work with the commercial side of the business around
the world.
The return of King Kenny to Anfield was exclusively revealed
by the Echo on April 18, but the confirmation will delight
Liverpool fans.
And the former Reds player and manager was equally
overjoyed.
(Liverpool Echo)
More financial fears
for Tom Hicks
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks could be forced out of one of
his American sports teams, as reports in the USA claimed his
financial position is becoming increasingly acute.
Hicks is owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team, but it
has been claimed that Major League Baseball, the sports
governing body for the USA's national sport, has been forced
to step in and loan Hicks millions of dollars in the last
week to pay his players.
“He won’t be running the team much longer,” a source said.
“Major League Baseball is helping him through this until
someone else can be put in place to run the club.”
The latest news comes on top of reports that the Hicks
Sports Group defaulted on an interest-only payment on a
$525m loan to his US-based sports operations.
The report is unlikely to affect the refinancing of Hicks
and George Gillett's LFC loan with Wachovia and the Royal
Bank of Scotland.
But it highlights the increasingly precarious financial
position Hicks finds himself in.
(Liverpool Echo)
Reds to loan out defender
Skysports.com understands Liverpool are ready to loan out
young defender Robbie Threlfall before the start of the
season.
The 20-year-old, who has come through the youth ranks at
Liverpool, is highly-regarded by the coaching staff at
Anfield.
Threlfall has enjoyed loan spells at Hereford and Stockport
in the last few seasons and Liverpool are willing to farm
him out again so that he can continue his development.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez is keen to send him out on loan as he
continues his policy of farming out his best young players
so that they can regular first-team action under their
belts.
The Reds have made the talented left-back available for loan
and the news has alerted a number of clubs north and south
of the border.
(Sky Sports)
Kaka wants Alonso arrival
New Real Madrid star Kaka would like to see Liverpool's Xabi
Alonso become the latest recruit for the new generation of
'galacticos'.
The Primera Liga side have already captured Kaka, Cristiano
Ronaldo and Raul Albiol, while an offer for Lyon's Karim
Benzema has been accepted in a phenomenal summer of lavish
spending.
Alonso is a target and Real have made no secret of their
admiration for the former Real Sociedad ace, with reports of
a bid in the region of £30million being prepared for later
in July.
The 27-year-old's future is unclear after a rumoured bust-up
with boss Rafa Benitez and, after playing against the Reds
with ex-club AC Milan in the 2005 and 2007 UEFA Champions
League finals, Kaka believes the Spaniard would be a good
addition.
"I've played against him in two European Cup finals," Kaka
told Spanish media when asked about Alonso.
"He is an excellent player and Spanish so he would be very
welcome."
(Sky Sports) |
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THURSDAY 2 |
Michael Shields refused pardon
Michael Shields will not be freed from jail early after he
was refused a Royal Pardon today.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw announced the 22-year-old will
not be pardoned after studying the results of a Merseyside
police inquiry into
his case.
But Mr Straw said he will review his decision if any further
evidence surfaces which proves the Engineering student’s
innocence.
Michael was understood to be devastated after he was
informed of the news in his cell at Thorn cross prison in
Warrington.
Unless there is a Government U-turn it means the Edge Hill
Liverpool F.C. supporter will not be released until his
sentence is completed
in May 2010.
He was sentenced to 15 years for attempted murder following
an attack in the Black Sea resort of Golden Sands, Bulgaria,
in May 2005.
(Liverpool Echo)
Real delay Alonso bid
Real Madrid have delayed making an official bid for Xabi
Alonso until after July 18th.
If Liverpool were to sell Alonso before that date they would
have to give 20% of any fee received to his former club Real
Sociedad as a sell-on fee. However, that clause expires on
July 18th and Real Madrid believe the Reds may be more
willing to sell if they are to receive the full amount of
any transfer rather than just 80%.
(LFC Online)
Reds reveal two new backroom boys
Liverpool have today announced two new additions to their
backroom team at Melwood.
Eduardo Parra Garcia will join the technical staff as
Fitness Coach with specific emphasis on rehabilitation work
after deciding to leave his position with Celta Vigo to take
up the offer of a new challenge at Anfield.
"It's a dream come true for me to come and work with Rafa
Benitez and the backroom staff at Liverpool FC," he said.
"I know all about Liverpool, the history, the passion of its
amazing fans and of course the quality of its great players.
I am really excited about working here."
Joining Eduardo as a new face at the club for the coming
campaign will be Ivan Ortega, who will take up a position
within the medical team as a Sports Therapist.
Ivan's previous position was also with Celta Vigo, where he
was responsible for physiotherapy at first team level for
the past two seasons.
"I am thrilled to have been offered the opportunity to work
in such a fantastic Club. Everyone knows Liverpool in Spain
and around the world," he said.
"Although it's a new country and a new environment for me, I
can't wait to get started."
(LFC Official Website)
Barca making £25m
move for Mascherano
Rafa Benitez's transfer plans could be thrown into chaos by
a £25million bid from Barcelona for Javier Mascherano.
The Champions League holders are refusing to give up their
pursuit of the Liverpool midfielder and are ready to test
Benitez's resolve with a concrete offer.
(Daily Mirror) |
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WEDNESDAY 1 |
Juve reject Alonso reports
Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli insists the Serie
A giants are not interested in signing Liverpool midfielder
Xabi Alonso.
Speculation is rife that Juve have joined the race to sign
the Spain international, who they tried to tempt to the
Stadio Olimpico last year.
However, Cobolli Gigli claims they are not in the hunt for
Alonso, who has also been linked with Barcelona and Real
Madrid.
"There are a lot of names for midfield but not that of Xabi
Alonso," he said. "I learnt from the press about our
interest for the Spanish player.
"He's a great player but I think that to say that I have
read his name in the papers says it all."
(Sporting Life)
Torres reveals Benitez’s
management philosophy
Fernando Torres has hailed Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, and
credited the former Valencia coach with turning him into a
prolific goal scorer.
The 25-year-old Spaniard has scored 50 gaols in just 84
appearances for the club despite previously being questioned
as a natural finisher during his time with Atletico Madrid.
Torres told Liverpool’s Official website: “Rafa concentrates
on the professional side of things,”
“He tries to improve every minor detail and movement you
carry out during the course of a game, and he also explains
the reasons behind
his decisions.”
“He's obsessed that you understand what you are doing and
why.”
“He’s not happy that you do things just because he tells you
that something has to be done.”
“He says: 'Do it like this. Do you understand why you are
being told to do so? No? We’ll go through it again then'.”
“I remember when I signed for the club people were
questioning me as a goalscorer. I received criticism because
I wasn’t getting goals.”
“The first thing he told me was that I was signed to score
goals. Benitez is adamant that I live in the area because
that’s where you get goals.
“That was the first thing he told me, the wing is for the
wingers, and that the striker should be focused on the two
rival centre-backs.”
"The Spain team play very differently, we have to be
constantly on
the move.”
“In England I have to draw the centre-back out of place so
that Steve Gerrard can burst through.”
(Sport.co.uk)
Liverpool agree Leto sale
Liverpool have agreed a deal with Greek side Panathinaikos
for the sale of winger Sebastian Leto.
The Argentine spent last season with rivals Olympiacos after
work permit problems prevented him playing for the Reds.
Leto signed for Liverpool in August 2007 after Rafa Benitez
beat the likes of Real Betis and River Plate to his
signature.
The 22-year-old made his competitive debut in a Champions
League qualifier against Toulouse on August 28, 2007 - one
of four senior games.
(LFC Official Website)
Thor Zakariassen
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