THURSDAY 15
	Inter coy on Mascherano Inter Milan sporting director Marco Branca has refused to rule out a move for Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano. Mascherano has been strongly linked with an exit this summer and, amid reports he is set for a reunion with Rafael Benitez, he has revealed he is learning Italian. "I can say that he is a great player," Branca said. "There are good players that we can take and others that cannot be taken. It depends from the requests of the clubs. Our image has grown a lot on a global level and the champions want to play for us. "We are calm, though. For now, we have signed an experienced goalkeeper and two interesting youngsters like [Jonathan] Biabiany and [Philippe] Coutinho. The objective is to have a squad similar numerically to that of last year." Inter defender Javier Zanetti has indicated that he would welcome the chance to play alongside his compatriot. "He's a great player, who wins back a lot of balls," he told Sky Italia. "He would be well suited to Inter." (Soccernet) Boss thrilled with Milan arrival Roy Hodgson today revealed his delight at Milan Jovanovic's Anfield arrival - and admitted he was tracking the Serbian striker while manager at Fulham. "I'm very pleased we have got Milan," said Hodgson. "He looks a very keen and enthusiastic player and it's good to have players who are desperate to play for the club." (LFC Official Website)   Roy reveals transfer plans Roy Hodgson today confirmed Liverpool are working hard to improve their squad for next season - but warned supporters not to believe everything printed in the newspapers. "We are looking to add to and improve the squad, but I prefer not to talk or say what we are doing until we have something concrete to announce. "I have great faith in the Liverpool public that they will see through the snippets of information they may read in the newspapers, take it with a pinch of salt and wait for an official announcement." (LFC Official Website)  McClaren: Hodgson sets example Steve McClaren thinks succeeding abroad is the best way of landing a job with one of England's big clubs, citing Roy Hodgson as a good example. Wolfsburg boss McClaren claims it is becoming increasingly hard for Englishmen to succeed in their native country but urged them to look at new Liverpool chief Hodgson, who managed in Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, the United Arab Emirates and Finland, before an impressive spell at Fulham prompted a move to Anfield. York-born McClaren has also tried his hand abroad, winning the title with FC Twente in Holland last season before joining Wolfsburg earlier this summer. He told FourFourTwo magazine: "I don't think British managers can compete for the top jobs at the present moment because they haven't got the experience of winning titles or playing in the Champions League. "Why not go abroad? When foreign managers come to England, they often come with experience of winning things abroad. "Young British managers have always looked to their home country to establish themselves but it's getting more and more difficult for them to come through now because of the influx of foreign managers. "Roy Hodgson is a perfect example of someone who's left England to travel here, there and everywhere with all sorts of clubs and came back and established himself as a top manager. It's something to try to emulate." (TEAMtalk) Di Matteo admits Ngog interest West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo has confirmed his interest in Liverpool striker David Ngog. Di Matteo is thought to have enquired about taking the young Frenchman on a season-long loan as he looks to bolster his attacking options. Ngog enjoyed his best season for Liverpool last term, featuring in 37 matches in all competitions and he scored eight goals. It remains to be seen if Liverpool would consider loaning out Ngog with the Reds currently short of cover up front with Fernando Torres facing a race to be fit for the start of the new season. Di Matteo has admitted his interest in Ngog and is waiting to see if Liverpool would consider sending him out on loan. "Yes, he is a player we are interested in," Di Matteo told the club's official website. "But most clubs wait until the end of July and the beginning of August before deciding on which players they might loan out." (Sky Sports) Zanetti keen for Mascherano Inter Milan captain Javier Zanetti is hoping fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano will join him at the club. Liverpool midfielder Mascherano is being linked with a move away from Anfield and Zanetti has eyed him as an ideal candidate to come to the San Siro. "Mascherano? He's a great player, which retrieves a lot of balls. He would suit to Inter," Zanetti told Sky Italia. (tribalfootball) Reports: Insua fee agreed Reports suggest Emiliano Insua will join Fiorentina in a £5 million deal which could be wrapped up before the weekend. Talks between the clubs had taken place before Roy Hodgson's appointment. Earlier this week the Reds boss admitted he had been impressed by the 21-year-old but suggested he may have no say in the transfer. (Shankly Gates)
	WEDNESDAY 14
	Muntari cools exit talk Inter Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari has shrugged off speculation over a possible move back to the Premier League. The Ghana international, who formerly played in the English top flight with Portsmouth, has reportedly attracted interest from Tottenham and Liverpool. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp worked with Muntari while the duo were at Fratton Park, and it is understood he is keen to renew that partnership as he assembles a squad capable of challenging in the Champions League. But the 25-year-old is adamant he is happy to remain at the San Siro, where he has two years left on his current deal. "I'm staying. I have two years remaining on my contract. I love the city, the club and I'm sure about staying," Muntari told GTV. "I had a great relationship with Jose [Mourinho] and I know it would be the same again with a new man in charge. "Now, we have another great coach, [Rafael] Benitez, and I am looking forward to working with him." (Sky Sports) Torres' injury confirmed Spain's Football Federation has confirmed that Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has ruptured a muscle in his left thigh. The 26-year-old striker was a substitute in Sunday's World Cup final against Holland, but pulled up as the end of extra-time approached. Torres returned to Spain following the triumph, along with the rest of Vicente Del Bosque's successful squad, and has now undergone a scan on the injury to ascertain the full extent of the blow. A statement on the SFF's website confirmed Torres had a magnetic resonance scan at the Cemtro de Madrid Clinic and evidence was found of "a Grade 1 muscle fibre rupture in the left thigh." Torres struggled to make the World Cup after missing the end of Liverpool's season with right knee injuries and looked out of sorts in South Africa. The former Atletico Madrid striker earned four starts in the tournament after coming on in their opening group game defeat to Switzerland before being dropped for the semi-final against Germany. Cadena Ser news network confirmed on Wednesday the scan results would be sent to Liverpool and it was unlikely Torres would play before the new Premier League season starts next month. (Sky Sports) Reds head for training camp Liverpool's pre-season preparations step up a gear today when the squad flies out to Switzerland for a ten-day training camp. Based at a resort in the Alps near to the Austrian border, the Reds' squad will combine intense daily training sessions with a series of warm-up matches as they start to work towards the big kick-off next month. There will be a youthful look to the Liverpool squad over the next couple of weeks, with the club's World Cup players given extra time off to recuperate and rest after their exploits in South Africa. Saudi Arabian champions Al-Hilal will provide Roy Hodgson with his first opponents as Liverpool manager when the two sides meet in Austria on Saturday night. A clash in Switzerland against Grasshoppers follows next Wednesday, while newly promoted Bundesliga outfit will be the opposition in Germany for the final friendly before the Reds return home to prepare for the first leg of their Europa League qualifier. (LFC Official Website) Gervinho rejects prospect of leaving Lille for Liverpool Lille winger Gervinho is set to be the subject of an approach from Premier League side Liverpool, who are keen to add to their wide options after losing Yossi Benayoun to Chelsea, according to L’Equipe, though the player has already moved to quash such a move. (Goal.com)  Liverpool’s Nemeth linked with Lecce Liverpool forward Krisztian Nemeth is being linked with a move to Italian Serie A promotion winners Lecce. (tribalfootball)  Hodgson boosted by Torres gesture Roy Hodgson feels pictures of Fernando Torres celebrating his World Cup success wearing a Liverpool scarf have given the club a lift. The Spain striker has been the subject of constant speculation over his future throughout the summer but he showed his allegiance after Sunday's glorious triumph in Johannesburg. The 26-year-old was one of four Liverpool players in the World Cup final squads along with Spanish team-mate Jose Reina and Holland pair Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel. Hodgson told the club's website: "As Liverpool manager, I take great pride in the fact that two of our players can call themselves World Cup winners this summer. "I think it's safe to say the pictures of Fernando in the dressing room with the World Cup certainly went down well with our fans but the club can be proud of all the players who went away to the World Cup. "To have four players reach the final is an incredible achievement and I look forward to working with them when they return to Melwood after their holidays." (Football 365) Reds announce duo's departure Liverpool have confirmed that both Francisco Duran and Nikolay Mihaylov have left the club. The young duo joined the Reds back in 2007 but failed to make an impact on the first-team scene. Duran arrived from Malaga in the January transfer window but despite showing glimpses of his talent in the reserves, the Spanish midfielder endured an injury-prone spell at Anfield, and departs following the expiration of his contract earlier this summer. Mihaylov was signed from Levski Sofia but never looked like ousting Pepe Reina from the first-team goal, and after spending the 2009-10 season on loan at Dutch side FC Twente, he has now made the move permanent. (LFC Official Website)
	TUESDAY 13
	Masch agent welcomes 'dream' Inter link Javier Mascherano's agent claims the Liverpool midfielder would jump at the chance of a reunion with Rafael Benitez at Inter Milan. The Argentina captain is reportedly one of the top transfer targets for Inter this summer. And Mascherano's agent Walter Tamer has done little to quell the speculation, telling Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport: "Mascherano has not spoken to (new Liverpool manager Roy) Hodgson nor with Liverpool. "After the World Cup, he has switched off but it's clear that he is happy to be a target of top clubs in the transfer market. "Last season, it was the European champions Barcelona that wanted him and this year it's Inter, the current Champions League winners. "For him to be linked to Inter has a magical taste...it's a dream. "Think about it, the strongest team in the world wants him, a team where many of Mascherano's compatriots play and a side that is guided by a coach with whom Mascherano has a personal bond." (TEAMtalk) Aquilani boost for Reds Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani has completely recovered from the ankle problem which hampered his first season at Anfield, according to the club's new medical chief. The Italian had to wait more than two months for his Reds debut following his £20million move from Roma last year and then endured an indifferent campaign. The 25-year-old is now back with the club for pre-season training and has already made a positive impression on newly-appointed head of sports medicine and sports science Peter Brukner. Brukner told LFC Weekly magazine: "Alberto's ankle, which was a problem last year, is now 100% healed." (Press Association Sport)  Ngog plans Reds stay David Ngog's agent has rejected reports linking the Liverpool youngster with a loan move away from Anfield. Reports had suggested Premier League new boys West Brom were keen on signing Ngog on a season-long loan in a bid to bolster their squad. However, Liverpool are unlikely to agree to any loan deal with Ngog in line to start the season in attack if Fernando Torres faces another spell on the sidelines with the groin injury he picked up in the World Cup final. Ngog's agent, Bruno Satin, admits there has been interest in the France Under 21 international, but that the player wants to stay and fight for his place at Liverpool. "There has been interest in David, but he will not be leaving on loan," Satin told skysports.com. "He is only 20 years old and he played in 37 matches for Liverpool last season so why would they let him go? "I know Roy Hodgson likes him as a player as he mentioned him before at Fulham. "David wants to stay at Liverpool and fight for his place this season." (Sky Sports) Iniesta: Torres decision close Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta believes Liverpool striker Fernando Torres will decide on his club future in the next fortnight. The pair are still coming to terms with helping Spain become World Cup winners for the first time on Sunday. Torres only discussed his situation with Iniesta after the final, in which the Barcelona star scored the only goal in extra-time. And Iniesta reckons Torres will be ready to sort out his future after a short break with his family. "Fernando was fully focused on Spain and we didn't even talk about his future until last night," he told the Daily Express. "He is going to take a break with his wife and daughter [after attending his sister's wedding this week], speak to Liverpool and take things from there. "Any club that has him is lucky to have him. David Villa says Torres is the most complete striker in the world and his future will be decided in the next two weeks." (TEAMtalk) Valencia playmaker Banega remains on Liverpool radar Liverpool remain keen on Valencia playmaker Ever Banega. Banega was a target for former Reds boss Rafa Benitez and the club's interest has been maintained, despite the arrival of Roy Hodgson. (tribalfootball.com)   Reds top seeds in Europa draw Liverpool are the top seeds in the Europa League qualifier. Being seeded means the Reds will avoid the likes of Juventus, Stuttgart, Sporting Lisbon or Galatasary in Friday's draw. (LFC Online) Real rule out Gerrard bid Real Madrid have ruled out a move for Steven Gerrard due to the Liverpool captain's age and valuation, according to the club's transfer consultant Ernesto Bronzetti. Jose Mourinho's appointment as Real coach earlier in the summer prompted speculation that the Spanish giants would launch a bid for Gerrard. Former Chelsea manager Mourinho tried to sign Gerrard during his time in charge at Stamford Bridge, but appears unlikely to make a renewed effort to work with the England midfielder. Gerrard's future at Anfield had been the source of debate following the club's failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season and the departure of Rafa Benitez. However, Bronzetti has revealed that Real president Florentino Perez is not keen to add Gerrard to his squad for next season, with a hefty price tag one reason behind the reluctance to make a bid. "Kaka will stay at Real, but the president does not agree with Gerrard because he is 30 and Perez doesn't want to know," Bronzetti told GR Parlamento. "Plus, Liverpool asked for €70m [£58m]." Bronzetti revealed Mourinho is keen to sign a player in the mould of Gerrard after ruling out an offer for Inter Milan full-back Maicon. He added: "Mourinho is convinced to leave Sergio Ramos on the right and now he wants a central defender or midfielder like Gerrard. "Real did not make an offer for Maicon, there was a request of €35m [£29m from Inter]." (Sky Sports) Cisse eyes English return Djibril Cisse has revealed he would love the chance to move back to England and the France international insists that a return to Liverpool is the move he yearns for most. Cisse last played in England for Sunderland two seasons ago before he joined Greek giants Panathinaikos. The 28-year-old rediscovered his goal-scoring touch in Athens, with 23 goals last season, but he now concedes he would relish the chance to move back to the Premier League. "At Liverpool I didn't have my chance, at Sunderland I had a good time but I fancy coming back to Liverpool - that would be nice," Cisse told Sky Sports News. "I like Arsenal, because my friends are there, Manchester is nice, but my club is Liverpool - from my club point of view, England is one of the best if not the best." Cisse, who was part of France's World Cup squad, feels that he is now enjoying football again and is ready to make another impact on the Premier League. "I was missing enjoying football, and a lot of things - I needed to go away for a bit," he said. (Sky Sports) Thor Zakariassen ©