MONDAY 24
	Report: Benitez considering Riera for Zigic swap Valencia striker Nikola Zigic is interested in a move to the Premier League and has garnered the interest of a number of English clubs including Liverpool. Reds manager Rafa Benitez is keen to make an offer to los Che that could kill two birds with one stone. He is pondering a swap deal that would send out of sorts winger Albert Riera to Spain in return for los Che's towering striker, according to AS. (Goal.com)     The Monday May 24 transfer gossip EVERYONE WHO IS GOOD IS ON MOURINHO'S RADAR There's a glorious simplicity to The Sun's back-page headline this morning: 'PANIC!' Jose Mourinho's arrival at Real Madrid (we're now officially referring to it as a done deal) is causing plenty of sleepless nights, particularly at Anfield and Stamford Bridge, with the Special One expected to raid England's finest for their finest stars. 'Chelsea's Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole are in his sights, along with Liverpool stars Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres,' declares the newspaper. 'And Liverpool will be quaking. The Special One twice tried to sign Kop skipper Gerrard when he was at Chelsea, although luring Torres back to Spain might prove difficult as he remains such a hero at Real's rivals Atletico.' And that's not all. (Football 365) Benitez rubbishes United Arab Emirates link Rafa Benitez today rubbished suggestions he has received an offer to manage the United Arab Emirates – as he again stated his intentions to stay at Anfield. The Liverpool manager’s future has been a topic of much debate this year and he has been linked with both Juventus and Inter Milan. It was reported that the UAE want to offer him a £5m ‘golden hello’, a house on Dubai’s exclusive Palm Island plus a £4m annual salary to quit the Reds. But Benitez has met chairman Martin Broughton and managing director Christian Purslow twice since the end of the campaign to discuss how to move the Reds forward. More talks are planned in the future and Benitez has made it clear he wants to continue in the role he has filled since 2004 – so long as everyone at the club feels the same way. “I was very surprised to read about this story but it seems more and more as if they keep happening from somewhere,” said Benitez. “I am very happy here in Liverpool. “I have always been happy and I want to stay here for a long time – if it is possible.” (Liverpool Echo)
	SUNDAY 23
	Torres beats Gerrard Fernando Torres is the most popular player among Kopites getting names printed on their new home shirts. A whopping 42 per cent of fans requesting a player on the back of their new jersey have plumped for the Spanish ace. Scouse hero Steven Gerrard is in second place with 34 per cent, followed by vice-captain Jamie Carragher on 4.2 per cent. Here's the top 10 with percentages: Torres - 42 Gerrard - 34 Carragher - 4.2 Mascherano - 3.5 Agger - 2.6 Aquilani - 2.4 Johnson - 2.3 Reina - 2.2 Kuyt - 1.9 Maxi - 1.7 (LFC Official Website) Reina: Torres will stay with Liverpool Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has warned suitors Chelsea and Manchester City that team-mate Fernando Torres will stay at Anfield next season. Torres has been linked with a move away from Merseyside after the club's poor campaign, with Chelsea, City and Barcelona supposedly in the running for the Spain international's services. But Reina spoke to his compatriot this week and claims Torres is committed to turning the club's fortunes around. "I am calm about Fernando," Reina said in quotes reported by The People. "I spoke to him about his future and he has told me that he intends to continue with us. "Fernando suffered so many blows last season, but he is a professional and has always wanted to do well for us. "That is what he remains - committed to this club." Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has also been strongly linked with a move away from the club this summer, with Inter Milan a possible destination, but Reina is equally convinced his manager will stay put. "I am convinced that Rafa will still be with us and that is good for us because he wants revenge in the next campaign," he said. (TEAMtalk)
	SATURDAY 22
	Gerrard has no plans to leave Liverpool Steven Gerrard is adamant that he will see out his contract at Liverpool. The 29-year-old England midfielder still has three years left on his Anfield deal but that has not stopped speculation being rife that he is keen to move on this summer after a disappointing campaign for Rafa Benitez's men. "If people want to speculate about my future, that's up to them. I cannot control that, I can only control what I am thinking myself. What is important to me now is the World Cup and focusing only on the World Cup." (Sport.co.uk)  Rafa defends record Rafael Benitez has defended his record since taking over as Liverpool boss, insisting that his side have progressed rather than fallen behind. Benitez has been consistently linked with a move away from Merseyside, with Inter Milan reportedly lining him up as a replacement for his old rival Jose Mourinho, who looks likely to join Real Madrid this summer. One of the main criticisms levelled at Benitez has been that he has had money to spend in the transfer market, however he countered this assumption stating that he had made money for the club rather than wasted it. "Some people say I have spent £280million," he added. "But we have spent £220million on players and generated £160million in player sales. That is the equivalent of a £60million net spend over six years: in other words, £10million spent per year." (Sky Sports)  Jovanovic has no regrets over Liverpool FC move Milan Jovanovic insists he has no regrets over his imminent move to Liverpool FC despite the uncertainty that continues to envelop the club. Jovanovic will make a free transfer switch to Anfield once his contract expires with Standard Liege at the end of next month. There had been confusion over whether the Serbia international, who can play either as a striker or a left-winger, had agreed to become Rafa Benitez’s thus far most prominent summer signing. But the 29-year-old has now spoken for the first time about his arrival, and believes he is joining a team that can make amends for the disappointment of the last 12 months. “Everything has been completely normal with Liverpool,” said Jovanovic. “I have signed the contract but that was the easier part of the job. Now comes the hard part, which is winning a place in the team. “There will be a lot of games and everyone will have the chance to play, and I really see this as the place where I want to be. The thought of playing at Anfield is an incredible inspiration for me.” The Serbia international added: “The saga over my transfer has taken a long time and it has been spoken about in practically every transfer window. “But in the end I wanted to stay until the end of my contract at Standard.” (Daily Post) Liverpool marks 25th anniversary of the Heysel tragedy City leaders will today send a message to Turin reaffirming the “bond of friendship” between the two cities ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Heysel tragedy. A series of events is being planned in Liverpool to mark the disaster on May 29, 1985, when 39 Italians lost their lives. The ECHO can reveal how bells will ring out in Liverpool next week, on two separate days, to remember the victims who never came home from the European Cup Final. This weekend, Lord Mayor Cllr Mike Storey will pen a letter to his counterpart in Turin – Sergio Thiamparino. It talks of the “bond of friendship” between the two cities and describes Heysel as “one of the most shameful and tragic events in our city's history”. The letter says: "I'm writing with the 25th anniversary of the Heysel disaster approaching, as it's a time when we reflect on one of the most shameful and tragic events in our city's history. "On the day of the anniversary, we will be remembering those who lost lives at Heysel, their family and friends in a number of ways, including the planting of a tree to remember the victims. "Of course, nothing can bring back lives so tragically lost, but I want to give an assurance to the people of Turin that we will never forget those who died and they are particularly in our thoughts on this sad occasion. "We will continue to work to ensure that there can never be a repetition of the events of Heysel, and, hopefully, to build a bond of friendship between the two cities." (Liverpool Echo) Thor Zakariassen ©