|
|
|
WEDNESDAY 24 |
Messi appeals to Mascherano
Lionel Messi has again urged Liverpool midfielder Javier
Mascherano to consider a move to Barcelona.
The Argentine forward admits he would relish the opportunity
to play alongside his fellow countryman at club level.
Following speculation he could leave Anfield this summer,
Mascherano has been highly touted for a move to Camp Nou.
Admitting to being flattered by reported interest from the
Spanish champions, as well as Real Madrid, the 25-year-old
has dropped his biggest hint yet that he may switch to La
Liga.
Encouraging his compatriot to consider a move to Barca,
Messi admits a possible deal is exciting for him and the
club.
"Of course I would like him to join," he told El Mundo
Deportivo.
"Who would not want to play with great players like Javier?
I hope he can come here."
(Sky Sports)
Reds make statement on TV channel
Liverpool FC have issued a statement regarding LFC TV.
With Setanta going into administration there is doubt about
the future of the Reds' own television channel. The club
have issued the following statement about its future:
"LFC TV is currently broadcasting as normal and will
continue to do so until further notice. However, following
the announcement that Setanta GB is no longer trading, there
may be some disruption to our service for UK television
viewers.
"We're continuing to monitor developments but wish to point
out that our online and international viewers should remain
unaffected and that Liverpool Football Club remains
committed to the future of LFC TV."
(LFC Online)
Royal Bank of Scotland hand
Liverpool new financial boost
The Royal Bank of Scotland has told Liverpool owners Tom
Hicks and George Gillett that the club's £350million of
debt, due to be repaid in July, will be refinanced.
BBC business editor Robert Peston said today: "I understand
that Royal Bank of Scotland has told its two billionaire
owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, that their £350m debt
- which falls due for repayment on 24 July and is owed to
Royal Bank and Wachovia of the US - will be refinanced.
"A new lending agreement will be put on place."
The Anfield club owes two banks £350m, one of which is RBS.
The RBS revelation comes days after Liverpool co-owner
George Gillett agreed to sell one of his major assets in a
deal which would ease financial pressures at the Premier
League club.
(tribalfootball.com) |
|
TUESDAY 23 |
Benitez defends
£17m Johnson signing
Liverpool FC boss Rafa Benitez has defended his decision to
pay £17m for right-back Glen Johnson, even though he
admitted the deal has cost him more than he had hoped.
The Portsmouth defender has agreed to move to Anfield and he
is expected to formally sign a contract in the next couple
of days.
Reports suggest the transfer is costing £17million, although
much of that will be written off because of money still owed
by Pompey after Peter Crouch’s move to Fratton Park last
summer.
Chelsea tried to take their former player back to Stamford
Bridge but Benitez was always confident the England
international would choose Anfield - even if it was at a
premium.
"Sometimes you have to spend a little bit more," said the
Liverpool boss.
"You can’t compete in the top four of the Premier League
unless you spend some money.
"We were looking for a player of quality and also somebody
who is British because of the new Champions League rules.
"Glen Johnson fits both categories."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Real remain keen on Alonso
Real Madrid still hold hopes of prising Liverpool midfielder
Xabi Alonso away from Anfield, according to club director
general Jorge Valdano.
The Spain international has been the subject of intense
interest from the free-spending Primera Division side this
summer but the midfielder stressed last week that he was
happy in England.
However, Alonso's statements have not ended Madrid's
interest in the £20million-rated midfielder - a £10.5m buy
from Real Sociedad in 2004.
The 27-year-old came close to a switch to Juventus last
summer as Reds boss Rafa Benitez attempted to fund a move
for then Aston Villa's
Gareth Barry.
Neither move materialised and Barry has now joined
Manchester City after Alonso proved his worth to Liverpool
with a string of impressive displays last season.
Bankrolled by re-elected club president Florentino Perez,
Madrid look set to be Europe's biggest spenders this summer
and Valdano admits they still have eyes for Alonso.
"We have possibilities there but I don't want to say
anything that will make the negotiation more difficult. We
will wait a reasonable amount of time," he told Spanish
newspaper AS.
Alonso isn't the only Liverpool player on Madrid's radar as
full-back Alvaro Arbeloa's performances haven't gone
unnoticed by the Spanish giants.
The Spain international's future is up in the air with the
arrival of right-back Glen Johnson set to be processed this
week, and Madrid are keen should Arbeloa become available.
"The lad only has a year left on his contract with Liverpool
and this gives us more possibilities," added Valdano.
"He can play in two or three positions and this versatility
is good. He is another option to evaluate."
(Sky Sports)
One more signing for Reds
Rafa Benitez says Liverpool have enough money for one more
signing after splashing £17 million on Portsmouth’s Glen
Johnson.
The Pompey full back has agreed a move to The Reds and is
expected to put pen-to-paper in the next 48 hours.
The transfer represents a sizeable chunk of Benitez’s
allotted funds, but the Liverpool boss says there is room
for at least one more.
“We have a plan,” the Spaniard told the Liverpool Echo. “We
can sign one more player if necessary, but that’s without
any players leaving.”
(Setanta Sports)
Mascherano flattered but spoken for
Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has revealed he is
proud to be linked with Spanish giants Real Madrid and
Barcelona.
The tough-tackling Argentine was rumoured to be unhappy at
Anfield and courting a move to Spain, with his agent, Walter
Tamer, understood to have flown to Catalunya to hold talks
last week.
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has slapped a defiant
not-for-sale sign on the midfielder and claims he is an
integral part of his long-term plans
at the club.
But his firm stance has not dampened speculation the player
could be heading for the Anfield exit door.
"I am very proud and thankful for the interest from
Barcelona and Real Madrid,” told Don Balon.
“I feel happy at Liverpool, but it’s good for me to have
these two teams interested in me.
"Both teams are very important but at this moment I think
that Barcelona is a little bit better and that's why they've
won all that they have."
Asked about his relationship with Rafa Benitez, he said: “It
is excellent.
“He is a perfectionist - he works harder than anyone could
imagine.
“Luckily, he has renewed his contract, which has helped to
relax us all.”
(Setanta Sports) |
|
MONDAY 22 |
Reds pip Blues to Johnson signature
Liverpool have confirmed they have agreed a deal with
Portsmouth to sign England defender Glen Johnson, beating
Chelsea to his signature.
Both the Reds and the Blues agreed a £17.5million fee with
Portsmouth earlier this month.
Pompey were resigned to losing Johnson, with the player keen
to join a bigger club to enhance his bid of keeping his
place in the England squad for next summer's World Cup
finals.
Johnson was given permission to speak to both clubs about a
move last week and the full-back has decided to make the
switch to Anfield rather than return to Stamford Bridge for
a second spell.
A Liverpool statement read: "Liverpool FC confirmed this
evening that they had reached an agreement with Portsmouth
Football Club and with Glen Johnson for the transfer of the
player to Anfield."
Johnson will be Liverpool's first major signing of the
summer, but his arrival is sure to cast doubts over Alvaro
Arbeloa's long-term future on Merseyside.
(TEAMtalk)
Rushden youngster joins Liverpool
Rushden and Diamonds youth team striker Aaron King has
completed a move to Liverpool for an undisclosed fee.
King, 16, joined the Blue Square Premier side at age 11. He
begins a two-year scholarship with Liverpool on 6 July
following a successful trial.
Rushden's head of youth Paul Driver told the club website:
"We are all absolutely thrilled for Aaron.
"This is a brilliant achievement for everyone involved in
his development in the five years he has been with us."
King becomes the third player in the last two seasons to
move from Rushden's youth system to a Premier League club,
after Paris Cowan-Hall and Callum Reynolds who joined
Portsmouth.
(BBC Sport Online)
Espanyol fixture confirmed
Liverpool's pre-season friendly at Espanyol will kick off at
9pm local time (8pm BST) on Sunday 2nd August.
It will be the first game in the club's new Cornella-El Prat
Stadium after having spent the last 10 years playing at the
Olympic Stadium
in Barcelona.
(LFC Online)
Leto set for Panathinaikos
Liverpool winger Sebastian Leto has revealed he is almost
certain to move to Panathinaikos in the near future.
The 22-year-old is set to leave the Reds after it was
discovered he would have little or no chance of gaining a
work permit due to his lack of appearances on Merseyside.
The Argentine only joined the club in the summer of 2007 and
spent the entire of last season on loan at Greek side
Olympiakos.
The former Lanus youngster admits that he would have
preferred to make his move to the Greek champions permanent
but the offer never came.
"I am very close to Panathinaikos," he said. "There are
negotiations between Panathinaikos and Liverpool and as far
as I know the two sides are very close to a deal.
"I think that the possibilities to play at Panathinaikos
next season right now are more than 90 per cent.
"I have been waiting for something from Olympiakos all these
weeks but they didn't make a move to buy me so far.
"It's not a matter of money. I wanted to stay at Olympiakos
but since they don't want to sign me I have to think about
my future."
(Sky Sports)
Reds appoint managing director
Christian Purslow has been appointed the club's managing
director.
Purslow has been appointed by George Gillett and Tom Hicks
to manage the running of the club until a new Chief
Executive is appointed at which point he will continue as a
board director.
Purslow, a Liverpool season ticket holder, will work with
Rafael Benitez on transfers, Phillip Nash on the club's
finances and Ian Ayre on Club and commercial management.
"Tom and I felt that it was important to put a highly
experienced and respected executive in place to run the Club
and support the senior team and the Manager. There's a lot
to get done over the summer to build on the great season we
just had and Christian will be a valuable addition to the
team," said Gillett.
"Christian has been a great supporter of the Club for many
years and he's already built up good relationships at
Anfield. His strategic and commercial acumen will be a real
asset and we're delighted that he has made a long term
commitment to the Club," added Hicks.
(LFC Online)
Thor Zakariassen
© |
|
|
|
