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FRIDAY 21 |
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Magpies on verge of Duff deal
Newcastle have jumped ahead of Liverpool and Tottenham in
the pursuit of Damien Duff, and are now on the verge of
signing the Chelsea winger.
The Magpies agreed a fee for Duff on Friday, and the former
Blackburn player has also concurred on a contract with the
club.
The Republic of Ireland international will now undergo a St
James' Park medical this weekend, with the signing poised to
be sealed early next week.
(Sky Sports)
Agent provides Trezeguet update
The agent that represents Juventus striker David Trezeguet
says his client is in no rush to look for a move away from
the club.
A host of top European clubs including ourselves are
interested in signing the player but Patrizia Pighini says
what happens next is really down to Juventus.
"The player does not have a desire to move," said Pighini
"At the moment his future is in Juve's hands. When the
management make a decision on David, he will decide his own
future.
"Trezeguet is not discounting anything. Lyon would be good
because he has lived many years in France, while Inter would
allow him to stay close to Turin and Real would be good
because his wife has Spanish origins and he also respects
Fabio Capello
(Kop Talk)
Duff given permission to speak to Liverpool
Chelsea winger Damien Duff has been given permission to
discuss a possible transfer
to Anfield.
Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are also keen on the
possibility of landing him but it is highly unlikely that he
would snub the chance to sign for Liverpool if his previous
opinions about the club haven't changed.
(Kop Talk)
Pennant expects to stay
Liverpool target Jermaine Pennant expects to start the
season as a Birmingham player despite interest from the
Anfield club.
Rafael Benitez has already had a £3.5million bid rejected
for the former Arsenal trainee earlier this summer but the
Reds are reportedly ready to further test Birmingham's
resolve with an improved bid.
Pennant, who vowed to stay loyal to the club after they
stood by him during well-documented off-field problems, told
the Birmingham Mail: "I still have two years left on my
contract and Birmingham have said nothing to me about
whether they want to let me go or (if) they have agreed
anything with another club. And Liverpool haven't contacted
me, so that's it.
"I am taking every day as it comes as a Birmingham player.
All the speculation and stuff doesn't bother me. If no-one
actually says anything to me, then I ignore it."
(Sporting Life)
South Americans set for debut
Mark Gonzales and Fabio Aurelio should both make their
Liverpool debuts in tomorrow's pre-season friendly with
Crewe.
Gonzales and Aurelio missed last week's friendly at Wrexham
because both had picked up minor knocks in training.
However, both have recovered and are likely to play against
Crewe tomorrow afternoon.
(LFC Online)
Reds keep options open on Pennant
Liverpool have not made a bid for Birmingham midfielder
Jermaine Pennant.
But an offer could be imminent over the weekend after Rafael
Benitez has decided whether the winger is worth Birmingham's
£6/7m asking price.
The Reds have always had Pennant as first choice back-up if
their lengthy pursuit of Seville's Daniel Alves was
unsuccessful.
With the Spanish club more determined than ever to keep hold
of the Brazilian, Benitez may be forced to admit defeat and
turn his attention to St Andrews.
Reds chief executive Rick Parry confirmed today: "We have
not made a bid for Jermaine Pennant," but he added that the
Reds were continuing to monitor his situation.
(Liverpool Echo)
Reds deny double La Liga swoop
Liverpool have denied reports that they are on the brink of
snatching two promising youngsters from La Liga giants
Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Barcelona's 16-year-old midfielder Fran Merida - described
as a playmaker in the Ronaldinho mould - was reported to be
close to joining Liverpool, with Real Madrid teenager
Esteban Granero close to joining him.
Granero is currently plying his trade at Madrid's B side
Castilla and has impressed in the Segunda Liga, while Merida
has not turned up for pre-season training at the Nou Camp,
citing "personal reasons."
Mr Parry confirmed "we are aware of both players" but said
that reports claiming they were on their way to Anfield were
"wide of the mark."
(Liverpool Echo)
Squad numbers announced
Liverpool have announced their squad numbers for the
upcoming season.
Liverpool have announced their squad numbers for the new
season. Mark Gonzales will wear 11, Fabio Aurelio 12, Craig
Bellamy 17 and Gabriel Paletta 29. Robbie Fowler has been
given his old number 9 shirt again.
(LFC Online)
The full list is as follows:
1. Jerzy Dudek
2. Jan Kromkamp
3. Stephen Finnan
4. Sami Hyypia
5. Daniel Agger
6. John Arne Riise
7. Harry Kewell
8. Steven Gerrard
9. Robbie Fowler
10. Luis Garcia
11. Mark Gonzalez
12. Fabio Aurelio
14. Xabi Alonso
15. Peter Crouch
17. Craig Bellamy
20. Scott Carson
21. Djimi Traore
22. Momo Sissoko
23. Jamie Carragher
24. Florent Sinama-Pongolle
25. Jose Reina
28. Stephen Warnock
29. Gabriel Paletta
32. Bolo Zenden
33. Neil Mellor
34. Darren Potter
35. Danny Guthrie
38. David Mannix |
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THURSDAY 20 |
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Pennant deal close?
Liverpool are rumoured to be ready to bid £6m for Birmingham
City's Jermaine Pennant.
(LFC Online)
Hamann in action
Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann was given 45-minutes
of action for Manchester City last night as he played in
their pre-season friendly against Wrexham.
The game finished 3-3 and Didi was singled out for a decent
performance by Manchester-based media sources.
(Kop Talk)
Kuyt agent urges clubs to raise bids
Dirk Kuyt's agent has questioned Liverpool's hopes of
landing the striker, insisting he will not move to Anfield
unless the club meet Feyenoord's valuation.
The 25-year-old has been strongly linked with a move to
Anfield as the Reds look to increase their goalscoring
options ahead of the forthcoming season.
Newcastle are also reportedly interested but the player's
agent Rob Jansen believes he will remain at Feyenoord as
both clubs seem unlikely to pay the Eredivisie side's
£13.7million price.
"Dirk will not be signing for Liverpool any time soon,"
Jansen told AD Sportwereld.
"He is also not negotiating with any other English club for
that matter.
"Both clubs do not want to pay what Feyenoord wants.
"If foreign clubs don't have the money to buy Kuyt then he
will stay with Feyenoord, it's that simple."
(Sporting Life)
Fowler ready to fight for his place
Robbie Fowler says he is determined to fight for a place in
the Liverpool team this season.
Unlike some footballers the Kop legend is happy to admit
that he isn't the most ideal professional in the world and
it's honest comments like that which earn him so many
brownie points.
Robbie said: "I'm not as old as some people seem to think I
am and, hopefully, I've got a few more years left in me
playing at the top level.
"I want to be at Liverpool for as long as I can and if that
means performing as well as I did towards the end of last
season to get a new contract then so be it.
"I'm happy being back at Liverpool and if the manager plays
me, he plays me. If he doesn't play me, I'll support whoever
plays. But obviously it goes without saying I want to play.
"I've kept myself in good shape. I'm not going to sit here
and say I'm the ultimate professional and that I've been
working 24/7 in the summer. But I've done a bit and
pre-season is about getting fit as well. I'm still
continuing to do that so hopefully by the start of the
season I'll be firing."
(Kop Talk)
Reds target Real starlet
Liverpool are thought to be planning another raid on Spain
for Real Madrid youngster Esteban Granero.
Reports emanating from Spain suggests Liverpool are planning
a move for the highly-rated midfielder.
Granero is currently plying his trade at Madrid B side's
Castilla and he has impressed in the Segunda Liga.
(Sky Sports) |
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WEDNESDAY 19 |
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Title tilt within Gerrard's sights
Steven Gerrard has spoken of his determination to help
Liverpool launch a genuine tilt at this season's Premiership
title.
Skipper Gerrard is happy with the progress being made under
boss Rafael Benitez, but he insists the main aim this
campaign is to be towards the top of the table challenging
for the title, as well as competing for other silverware.
"We want to get involved in a title race domestically, win
another trophy and hopefully improve on our run in the
Champions League," Gerrard told the club's website.
"The idea at the beginning of last season was to make
Anfield a place where no-one wants to come and we've done
that. Next year it will be more of the same.
"The away form has improved an awful lot as well but I think
that's down to signing players like (Jose) Reina, (Momo)
Sissoko and (Peter) Crouch who give us that bit more of a
physical presence to the team. Teams don't like playing
against us now. That's the way we want it to be."
(TEAMtalk)
Kuyt agent: It's not a secret that
Liverpool are interested
Rob Jansen, the agent that represents Feyenoord striker Dirk
Kuyt, has been speaking about his client's future.
The Dutch international hitman continues to be linked with
us but Liverpool this week indirectly denied (via the local
media) that they were on the verge of signing him.
In an interview with the BBC today, Jansen said: "The
situation with Dirk Kuyt is that with approval of the Dutch
club Feyenoord, there are some clubs interested in England
and in Spain.
"No decision has been made and that's the status until now.
"It's very difficult so say exactly where we are because we
are not allowed by the clubs involved. But it is true that
some major clubs from the Premier League have shown their
interest, yes."
(Kop Talk)
Anfield duo told they can move on
Jan Kromkamp and Djimi Traore have been told they can leave
Anfield.
The defensive duo form part of Rafa Benitez's bid to raise
funds for a new right-sided midfielder and a new striker.
And there are already parties interested in both players.
PSV Eindhoven want to take Kromkamp back to his native
Holland.
"We have contacted Liverpool to ask what Kromkamp's status
is," said PSV chairman Rob Westerhof. "It is pretty hazy. We
don't know if we can loan him or buy him, but we hope to get
some clarity soon."
Traore has already attracted interest from Charlton and
Bolton.
"Djimi is considering moving on for regular first team
action," said his agent Willie McKay. "Rafa Benitez has told
him he can move if they receive the right offer. The problem
is Djimi is on a good contract at Liverpool and he feels
they may be pricing him out of a move with their price tag
on him."
(Liverpool Echo)
Five Reds promoted
Liverpool have promoted five members of their victorious FA
Youth Cup squad from the club's academy to train with the
reserves at the senior squad's Melwood base.
New reserve coach Gary Ablett will now have at his disposal
goalkeeper David Roberts, striker Craig Lindfield, left-back
Robbie Threlfall, right back Stephen Darby and central
midfielder Ryan Flynn.
(Daily Post)
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Thor Zakariassen
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