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THURSDAY 27 |
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Diao fails Charlton medical
Salif Diao will now return to Liverpool after failing a
medical at Charlton Athletic.
Diao, who has been told to find another club after not being
allocated a squad number for the new season has failed in
his attempt to join Charlton and will now return to
Liverpool.
New Charlton manager Ian Dowie was keen to sign Diao and was
reportedly prepared to spend up to £700 000 to snap up the
Senegalese 29 year old.
Unless Diao can get himself fit enough to join another club,
it now looks like he'll be spending another season at
Liverpool.
Diao may not get much of a chance at Anfield next year with
Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko and Zenden all seeming to be in
front of the tough-tackling midfielder in the pecking order.
(LFC Online)
Reds get stadium funds deadline
Liverpool FC has been given two months to prove it has the
funding to build a new football stadium.
Part of the plan for the £190m stadium in Stanley Park
involves regenerating the area around its current Anfield
Road ground with European Union cash.
The area could get £9m of Objective One Funding - money
earmarked by the EU to revive depressed areas.
Officials who distribute the funds said the club had to
provide evidence the stadium funding was in place.
(BBC Sport Online)
Feyenoord deny fresh Kuyt reports
Despite reports emanating from Holland last night, Feyenoord
have denied that they have received an approach for their
prized asset.
Due to widespread rumours about Dirk Kuyt's future, club
director Chris Woerts decided to set the matter straight.
"The reality is we are not negotiating with any club about
Dirk Kuyt, as long is this is so, Kuyt will stay at
Feyenoord."
"Instead of what some media had reported, it is not true."
"But I suppose the papers no longer use the old journalistic
principle of checking things first before they publish a
story."
It had been thought that Benitez may look to Kuyt for the
Reds last summer signing, but after Woerts statement, it
appears that the deal may have a long way to go yet.
(LFC Online)
Pennant deal a 'gamble'
Rafa Benitez today admitted he's taken 'a risk' splashing
over £6m on Jermaine Pennant, but immediately predicted the
winger will transform his image in Liverpool colours.
Benitez accepts the similarities in the reputation of
Pennant and fellow summer signing Craig Bellamy.
"Of course there is some risk in the deal, but there is risk
in every transfer," said Benitez.
"It doesn't matter who you sign, you must wait and see if
it's successful."
(Liverpool Echo)
Pennant keen to learn from troubled past
There's no escaping, Liverpool are turning into a home for
reformed characters.
If Craig Bellamy is generously described as being
'misunderstood' at former clubs, there's less ambiguity on
the CV of Jermaine Pennant, who arrives at Anfield requiring
a level of positive PR even Saatchi and Saatchi might
struggle to spin.
Pennant is one of those unique players who feels ashudder in
his spine when asked what number he'd prefer.
"It was the biggest wake-up call, the biggest shock and the
worst experience Ihave ever known,"said Pennant, recalling
his experience in Woodhill Prison, near Milton Keynes.
"I hope to God - and I know I won't - go down that path
again."
(Liverpool Echo)
Cash is in place for new Anfield
Liverpool FC have assured European moneymen that cash to pay
for their new stadium is in place.
Club officials will not attend a key meeting today when the
future of £9m of European Objective One funding earmarked
for the Stanley Park scheme could be decided.
But the Reds have already told the European Objective One
committee that they have the resources to press ahead with
the £190m, 60,000-seater stadium.
The European money will not be used to pay for the ground,
but for the regeneration of the deprived Anfield and
Breckfield communities nearby.
(Liverpool Echo)
Brescia starlet catches Reds' eye
Liverpool have asked for information on Brescia starlet
Savio Nsereko, according to reports in Italy.
In the transfer speculation columns in Italy, Nsereko has
emerged as a potential target for FA Cup winners Liverpool.
Nsereko is a teenage midfielder who was born in Uganda, but
also holds
a German passport.
(Sky Sports)
Weekend friendly still on
Contrary to reports this morning, Liverpoolfc.tv can confirm
that this weekend's friendly against Kaiserslautern is
definitely ON.
The game will take place in Liechtenstein on Saturday
afternoon when Jermaine Pennant could get his first run-out
in a Liverpool shirt.
There were some reports earlier today that the game had been
called off, but this is not the case and the match will go
ahead as planned at 4.30pm UK time at the Eschen-Mauren
Sports Stadium.
(LFC Official Website)
£9m question: Is stadium deal still on
track?
Liverpool FC could be given one last chance today to find
the money it needs to build a new stadium before the scheme
collapses.
The club faces having £9m worth of European funding
withdrawn this afternoon if it has failed to make any
progress in securing the rest of the finance it needs.
Officials want assurances that the project to build a new
home at Stanley Park is on track - or they will hand over
the cash to other schemes in the region.
But the Daily Post understands the Objective 1 committee
could be inclined to give the club a reprieve by extending
its deadline to give it more time to come up with the money.
They will consider three options today: rejecting it
outright, allowing a brief deadline extension, or agreeing
to start plans to give it the cash.
(Daily Post) |
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WEDNESDAY 26 |
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Liverpool complete Pennant signing -
OFFICIAL
Liverpool Football Club have completed the signing of
Jermaine Pennant from Birmingham City in a deal that will
reportedly cost the Reds up to £7.5million.
The 23-year-old winger has passed his medical and signed the
4-year contract offered to him by Reds chief executive Rick
Parry.
Pennant - who will wear 16 - is now on his way to
Switzerland to team-up with his new Liverpool team-mates.
(Kop Talk)
Reds back in for Kuyt
Liverpool are reported to have rekindled their interest in
Feyenoord striker Dirk Kuyt.
Reports emanating from Holland claim Liverpool have reopened
talks with Feyenoord about signing the Dutch international.
(Sky Sports)
Addicks close on Traore
Skysports.com can reveal Charlton are closing in on the
signature of Liverpool's Djimi Traore.
The Addicks are keen to sign the tall Frenchman after
Liverpool indicated they would be willing to let him move
on.
The arrival of Fabio Aurelio at Anfield has increased
competition for places and Liverpool are ready to trim their
squad.
Bolton expressed an interest in signing Traore, but Charlton
have jumped to the head of the queue to sign the versatile
defender.
The player's agent Willie McKay revealed talks over a move
to The Valley are at an advanced stage.
"Djimi is close to a move to Charlton," McKay told
skysports.com "It is a loan move with the option of a
permanent deal.
"I have had talks with Iain Dowie and [Charlton chief
executive] Andrew Mills about Djimi.
"Iain is very keen to sign Djimi and we are hopeful that it
can be pushed through this week so that he can make his
debut against Valencia this weekend.
"I am just waiting to hear back from Rick Parry at Liverpool
before the move can happen."
(Sky Sports)
Feyenoord: We're not negotiating for Kuyt
Feyenoord insist that they are not holding talks with any
clubs regarding the possible sale of striker Dirk Kuyt.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez wants to bring the Dutch
hitman to Anfield but a deal will only happen if his club
lower their asking price.
A club spokesman said: "Apparently newspapers attach no
value to the old journalistic principle that you must verify
something before you publish them.
"The reality is that we are not negotiating with any club
over Dirk Kuyt at present and as long as that is the case,
Dirk will stay at Feyenoord."
Kuyt was expected to play for Feyenoord in a pre-season
friendly yesterday but he took no part. He's only just
returned to training (as he was given extra time off) but he
was still tipped to be given a run out.
(Kop Talk)
Liverpool pencil in press conference
Birmingham City winger Jermaine Pennant has completed his
medical at Anfield and could be paraded at a brief press
conference this afternoon if everything goes as planned.
Arrangements have been pencilled in to present him to the
media but the player could instead fly out to Switzerland
and be officially paraded at a later date.
Much depends on the availability of Liverpool chief
executive Rick Parry.
Whatever happens today, providing he passes his medical, he
will join the rest of his new team-mates in Switzerland in
time to make his debut against Kaiserslautern
at the weekend.
(Kop Talk)
Anderson rewarded with new Liverpool
contract
Liverpool winger Paul Anderson has been handed a new
contract by the club.
Reds boss Rafael Benitez has handed the 18-year-old an
improved deal after his impressive displays since joining
from Hull City in January.
Anderson has signed what is effectively a three year
extension to his current deal.
The contract was signed before the squad headed off to
Switzerland.
(Kop Talk)
Pennant undergoes Reds medical
Jermaine Pennant is undergoin a medical on Wednesday morning
at Liverpool with a view to completing a £6.2million move
from Birmingham.
The former England Under-21 winger was believed to have
travelled to Merseyside on Tuesday night for talks, and is
expected to fly out to Switzerland if the medical and
contract details are completed.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez took his squad to their usual
training camp on Tuesday, and 23-year-old Pennant is likely
to join them once the details of his move have been
completed.
His debut could come in Saturday's friendly against
Kaiserslautern in Liechtenstein.
(Daily Mail)
Rafa and Stevie hail Bellamy
Rafael Benitez and Steven Gerrard have both insisted Craig
Bellamy could be the man to fire Liverpool's title dream
this season.
Bellamy has made an instant impression on his new team-mates
since his arrival from Blackburn Rovers and Gerrard is
convinced the Welsh striker will add a new dimension to the
Reds' attack this season.
"We all know he's a real good character out there," said the
skipper. "I've had a couple of run-ins with him in the past
but it'll be nice to have a character like that on our team.
"To win the league and other trophies you need to have
characters who have also got the quality - and Craig has
definitely got that.
Benitez, meanwhile, admits he's delighted with the work his
new striker has put in on the training field so far.
"He is working very well but sometimes I need to tell him to
control his energy," he said. "He has ability and passion. I
am very impressed with him.
"He can be a good signing for us and all the indications so
far are very good."
(LFC Official Website)
Reds reward Carson
Liverpool have tied promising goalkeeper Scott Carson down
to a new five-year deal.
The 20-year-old, who travelled to the World Cup finals as
England's third-choice goalkeeper, has now committed himself
to the Anfield club despite facing a battle for first team
football in the coming season.
Carson spent two months on loan at Championship side
Sheffield Wednesday last season, and The Owls have been
trying hard to borrow the former Leeds man again.
However Rafa Benitez has been unwilling to farm Carson out
for a second spell, and the Spaniard has now shown his faith
in the shot stopper by rewarding him with a new deal.
Carson moved to Anfield from Leeds for £750,000 back in
2005, and has underlined his reputation as one of England's
most promising goalkeeping prospects during his time
with The Reds.
(Sky Sports)
Bellamy eyeing Liverpool title push
Craig Bellamy believes Liverpool should challenge for the
league title this season.
Echoing the thoughts of his skipper Steven Gerrard, the
Welsh international believes there is now enough quality in
the Reds squad to rival Chelsea for the championship.
"Since I was a young child I supported Liverpool and to be
given the chance to play for Liverpool is a massive honour
and a dream come true for me," Bellamy told Sky Sports.
"At a club like Liverpool you always want to win the league
at the start of every season. Chelsea have set the benchmark
and it is up to us now to follow them and hopefully overtake
them.
"With the coaching staff, manager and the players we have
here we have a good opportunity of doing that this season. I
think we have a very good chance."
(Fans FC) |
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TUESDAY 25 |
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Pennant could be Liverpool bound
Liverpool are on the brink of capturing winger Jermaine
Pennant in a £6million plus move from Birmingham.
Sources close to the Coca-Cola Championship club claim a
deal has been agreed and that the player is on his way to
Liverpool for further talks.
(PA Sport)
Birmingham deny Pennant reports
Birmingham have released a statement denying a fee has been
agreed with Liverpool for Jermaine Pennant.
The St Andrews club have already knocked back a £3.5million
Anfield offer for the winger.
And the statement from Blues read: "Contrary to reports in
the media, Birmingham City have not agreed a fee with
Liverpool for Jermaine Pennant.
"The clubs have talked on a couple of occasions but
Birmingham and Liverpool are a long way off in their
respective valuations of the player.
"Until Birmingham's valuation is met, the club will not even
consider a move for Pennant.
"Birmingham City have continually stated they are not
looking to sell any of their
best players."
(TEAMtalk)
Benitez lands £6m Pennant
Jermaine pennant will join Liver pool after Birmingham last
night accepted a £6million bid for the England Under-21
winger.
Anfield boss Rafael Benitez conceded he had been priced out
of the race to sign Daniel Alves, his No.1 target to play
wide on the right, after Sevilla refused to budge on their
inflated £12m asking price for the Brazilian.
Benitez admitted Liverpool simply could not afford to buy
Alves and instead switched his sights to 23-year-old former
Arsenal midfielder Pennant.
Pennant is expected to complete contract talks with
Liverpool today and, if he passes a medical, the deal should
go through in time for him to join his new team-mates when
they fly out this week for a pre-season training camp in
Austria.
(Daily Mirror)
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Thor Zakariassen
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