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FRIDAY 15 |
L'OM looking for defender deal
According to reports in France, Marseille are considering a
move for Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia.
The two clubs have already been locked in negotiations
regarding a permanent deal for Djibril Cisse, and France
Football claims l'OM are also interested in the Finnish
defender.
(Sky Sports)
Ex-Red takes on top Rams role
Former Liverpool reserve Trevor Birch has been appointed
chief executive of Derby County Football Club.
Birch, who previously held similar roles at Chelsea, Leeds
and Everton, has taken up his new position with immediate
effect.
Born in Ormskirk, Birch joined the Reds as an apprentice in
the mid-70s and went on to establish himself as a prolific
goalscorer in Roy Evans' all-conquering second string of the
time.
He was part of the travelling squad for the 1978 European
Cup Final but failed to make a single first team appearance
and left to join Shrewsbury in March 1979.
(LFC Official Website)
Carson equals Carra record
Scott Carson has equaled Jamie Carragher's England under
21's appearance record.
Carson, along with Gareth Barry and fellow Red Jamie
Carragher, has made 27 appearances for the England under
21's. Carson's record equalling game came against the
Italians last night as England drew 2-2 in their latest
group game at the under 21's European Championships.
England went 2-0 up through David Nugent and Leory Lita
before a lucky deflection and a great 20 yard strike
levelled things for Italy.
England will qualify for the next round if they beat Serbia
in their final group game. A draw could also see them
through, depending on other results.
(LFC Online)
Dudek set for Real switch
Jerzy Dudek is set for a shock move to Real Madrid.
Dudek is set to sign a one year contract with the option of
a further twelve months at the Bernabeu as back up to Iker
Casillas.
"This will be bigger for me than winning the Champions
League Final with my saves in the shoot-out against Milan,"
said Dudek.
(LFC Online)
Liverpool and Spurs now favourites to sign
£17m Bent
Liverpool have emerged as shock contenders to sign Darren
Bent after the England striker rejected a £17m move to West
Ham.
Tottenham chiefs are also reported to have held talks late
last night with a view to renewing their interest in the
Charlton forward.
West Ham thought they had got their man, after agreeing a
£75,000-a-week deal.
However, they were stunned as Bent changed his mind then
Yossi Benayoun decided he wanted to pursue Liverpool's
interest in him.
(The Daily Mail) |
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THURSDAY 14 |
Alex complete O'Donnell signing
Crewe have completed the signing of Liverpool defender
Daniel O'Donnell.
The 21-year-old central defender has agreed a three-year
deal after making 31 appearances for the Railwaymen while on
a season-long loan last season.
His arrival means Gresty Road chief Dario Gradi is expected
to drop his interest in out-of-contract Mansfield
centre-half Alex John-Baptiste.
Gradi told Crewe's official website: "The most encouraging
thing for us was that he wanted to come here and improve as
a player by playing competitive games.
"I don't really think he wanted to go back to Liverpool and
play in their reserve team.
"We've been working really hard to get the deal done ever
since the season ended really and we are pleased it is now
all sorted out."
(TEAMtalk)
Dudek confirms Madrid approach
Jerzy Dudek has confirmed today's reports that Real Madrid
have made an offer
to sign him.
Earlier today it was reported that the La Liga giants were
after the Istanbul hero as backup for Iker Casillas, and
Dudek confirmed the story is true.
Speaking about the news, Jerzy said on his official website
"After today's press speculation, I must admit that I have
received an offer from one of the greatest club on the
world, if not the greatest one.
"I was able to keep it in the dark for a long time, because
the first contact was established a dozen or so days ago.
"The offer is an honour for me. I am seriously considering
it now. As for now, I can say that a few details have
already been agreed upon."
(Anfield Red)
Fowler linked with Rangers switch
Former England striker Robbie Fowler would welcome an
approach from Rangers, according to a report in The Herald.
An unnamed representative of the 32-year-old free agent told
the newspaper: "Robbie wants to play for Rangers. It would
be ideal for him.
"He wants to come and add medals to his collection. It would
be a major boost for
the fans."
(BBC Sport Online)
Villa first up for Reds
Liverpool open their Barclays Premier League title challenge
with a trip to Aston Villa.
The Reds are scheduled to take on Martin O’Neill’s men on
11th August.
They are due to lock horns with FA Cup holders Chelsea a
week later when Jose Mourinho brings his team to Anfield,
three days after West Ham make the trip to Merseyside.
Rafa Benitez’s men cross Stanley Park to take on local
rivals Everton on 20th October with the return fixture
scheduled for 29th March.
The Reds have to wait until December for their first clash
with Manchester United, the champions visiting Anfield on
15th December. Liverpool travel to Old Trafford
on 22nd March.
Two of the newly-promoted sides provide opposition in
September, Derby coming to Merseyside on 1st September while
Benitez’s team entertain Steve Bruce’s Birmingham City on
22nd September.
(Sky Sports)
Anfield move unlikely as Villa wants to
stay home
Valencia striker David Villa has appeared to rule himself
out of a summer switch to Anfield after expressing his
desire to remain at the Mestalla club.
Villa, who has scored 15 goals from 35 league appearances
for his side this term, is
a long-term transfer target of Rafael Benitez’s.
The Liverpool manager first targeted the Spain international
as a replacement for Michael Owen in 2005 but failed with a
£4.5million bid, the player later joining Valencia from
Zaragoza.
The player, a close friend of goalkeeper Pepe Reina, sparked
rumours of a possible transfer after being spotted in the
Anfield directors’ box for the home game with Bolton.
However, Villa, who is under contract with the La Liga
outfit until June 2013 and has
a buy-out clause of £100m, insists his future lies at La
Mestalla.
“My wish is to stay here,” said Villa, who is also a
reported target for Chelsea and Manchester United. “Not only
this year but in the future because I am under contract and
I hope I can extend it. In any case, we will have to wait
and see what happens
this summer.”
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Hammers rage at Rafa's £1m Benayoun offer
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has enraged West Ham by offering
an 'insulting' £1m for Yossi Benayoun.
The 27-year-old Hammers midfielder has stalled on a new
five-year contract and admits he would like to move to
Anfield.
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry said today: "I can
confirm we have made
an approach for Yossi Benayoun, but the figures quoted are
completely wrong.
"Other than that we don't want to say any more."
(The Daily Mail) |
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WEDNESDAY 13 |
Reds target Barca starlet
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is reportedly lining up a bid
for Barcelona youngster
Marc Crosas.
The 19-year-old midfielder made his Barca debut earlier this
season following an impressive run of performances for the
Catalan club's B team.
Benitez is believed to be looking to land Crosas initially
on loan with the possibility of him making the switch to
Anfield permanent at a later date.
(Sky Sports)
Carson keen on Italy shut-out
Scott Carson has targeted a clean sheet against Italy to
mark equalling the record for England Under-21 caps.
Carson will reach 27 caps, level with Jamie Carragher and
Gareth Barry, at Arnhem's Gelredome where Stuart Pearce's
youngsters have the chance to knock the Azzurri out of the
European Championships.
Czech Republic forced a goalless draw in England's opener
and Liverpool goalkeeper Carson is determined to keep
Pierluigi Casiraghi's team out as well.
"The Czechs came and they set out their stall early, were
well-organised and you've got to give credit to them as they
did what they set out to do," said Carson, who spent last
season on loan at Charlton.
"Defensively I was happy with a clean sheet - if I can get
two more in the group I think that will be us in the
semi-finals so hopefully I can keep Italy out."
James Milner has one cap less than Carson, while skipper
Nigel Reo-Coker has
20 caps.
David Prutton (25) and Jermaine Pennant (24) are other
highly-capped players at under-21 level, while out of the
current senior squad Jermain Defoe has 23 caps.
(TEAMtalk)
Smithy: I thought I was going to die
Reds legend Tommy Smith today said he feared he was going to
die after suffering a heart attack.
The Liverpool player dubbed the Anfield Iron because of his
hard man reputation remained in Fazakerley hospital today.
He revealed he would need a triple heart by-pass operation
soon.
The former Liverpool captain collapsed while gardening at
his home in Crosby
a week ago.
Tommy, 62, the first Liverpool captain to lift a European
trophy in 1973 and a goalscoring hero of the club’s first
European Cup win in Rome, 1977, admitted: “I was terrified.
I suddenly felt a pain in my chest and thought: I’ll have a
rest.
“I sat down and looked at my watch. It was around three
o’clock. I thought I’ll give it another five minutes.
“I put my head in my hands and the next thing I looked at my
watch and it was a quarter past three.
“I thought: ‘Where did a quarter of an hour go?’ There must
have been something wrong with me because I lost 15 minutes
of my life."
(Liverpool Echo)
Guthrie set for Saints switch
Danny Guthrie is set to join Southampton on a permanent
basis.
Guthrie spent the second half of last season on loan at St
Marys and helped Southampton reach the play-offs. Guthrie
impressed during his six months with the South Coast club
and Southampton now want to make the move permanent.
"I like Danny and it's something we'll consider - naturally
finance will come into play," said Saints' boss George
Burley.
"He came in and did well for us and we'll look at in the
summer. At the moment he's not in the Liverpool first team
squad so there might be an opportunity there."
(LFC Online)
Crouch hoping for more games
Peter Crouch is hoping to play more games next season.
Crouch accepts that he won't get to play every game at a big
club like Liverpool, but he says he's similar to every other
player in that he always wants to play more.
"Players are greedy and they want to play every game and I'm
no different. If your form dips a touch, you're going to be
replaced. You've got to keep on your toes," said the England
striker.
"But, when you've got 70 odd games in a season, it's not
feasible to start every game."
(LFC Online)
Report: Hammers win Bent race
West Ham are set to beat Tottenham and Liverpool to sign
Charlton striker Darren Bent in an £18million deal.
According to the Daily Star, the Hammers have offered
£80,000 a week to secure Bent's services, while Charlton
will receive £15million plus Marlon Harewood and Hayden
Mullins, who are surplus to requirements at Upton Park.
(Sporting Life)
Thor Zakariassen
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