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WEDNESDAY 27 |
Levski Sofia goalkeeper Mihaylov joins
Liverpool
Bulgaria under-21 international goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov
has joined English Premier League club Liverpool from
Bulgarian champions Levski Sofia, Levski said
on Wednesday.
Mihaylov, son of Bulgarian Football Union president Borislav
Mihaylov, signed a three-year contract with an option for a
further two years.
"I have no words," Mihaylov told Bulgarian sports Web site
www.sportal.bg after passing a medical examination in
Liverpool. "This is the greatest moment of my life."
Mihaylov, who turns 19 on Thursday, made his senior
international debut in a 5-1 defeat by Scotland in the Kirin
Cup in Japan last May.
He was in the Levski squad in the Champions League group
stages last year.
(Reuters)
Atleti hint at life after Torres
Atletico Madrid have given their clearest indication that
Fernando Torres could leave the club and that Diego Forlan
could be his replacement.
With Liverpool said to have made their interest in the
highly-rated striker known, the Spanish club are now playing
a waiting game.
Atletico official Miguel Angel Gil Marin admitted he was
aware of The Reds' desire to sign Torres and said that one
of his jobs this summer could be to look for a replacement.
"Nobody is essential," Gil Marin told Punto Radio.
"We are trying to build a team to compete and it is not
about any one player and, good though he is, we want a squad
that achieves its ambitions.
"Atletico is creating a side that is not all about Torres,
but about the team itself.
"I would love Fernando to stay, but it is Fernando himself
who will decide his future.
"We have talked to him and told him that he is in our plans.
It is normal that he has doubt
(Sky Sports)
Liverpool extend sponsorship deal
Liverpool have agreed to extend their long-running
sponsorship deal with Carlsberg
until 2010.
The new deal is for the next three seasons and is believed
to be for around £8m a term, continuing a partnership that
first started in 1992.
Reds chief executive Rick Parry said: "The
Carlsberg-Liverpool partnership is one of football's most
successful and longest, based on trust and respect."
It is the longest-running sponsorship of any club in the
Premier League.
(BBC Sport Online)
Reds held up in Torres transfer
Liverpool are reportedly closing in on record deal for
long-term target Fernando Torres, but could be held up by a
pay-off clause.
According to The Sun, Reds manager Rafael Benitez has agreed
to pay £25million for the 23-year-old Spain international.
However the deal could be held up because Torres is entitled
to 10 per cent of any fee and Atletico Madrid insist
Liverpool should pay it.
The Premier League side are adamant this cash, all
£2.5million of it, should come out of the overall transfer
pot.
(TEAMtalk)
Hamberg named Reds academy boss
Former Ajax player Piet Hamberg is set to take over as
academy technical director
at Liverpool.
Hamberg, who leaves Grasshoppers of Zurich to take up the
post, replaces Steve Heighway, who left the club in April
after 18 years in charge.
Reds boss Rafael Benitez said: "We have had very good
reports about Piet and he brings great experience to the
role.
"Our youngsters can only benefit from working with someone
with his background in youth development."
Chief executive Rick Parry added: "Following the departure
of Steve we took the opportunity to review the academy
structure and decided to separate the very distinct roles.
"Piet will come in with the specific brief to head up the
coaching and development side, while Malcolm Elias will be
in charge of all recruitment."
(BBC Sport Online) |
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TUESDAY 26 |
Stanley eye Antwi return
Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman is set to open
negotiations with Liverpool about the availability of Godwin
Antwi this week.
Ghanaian defender Antwi, 19, spent two months on loan at the
Fraser Eagle Stadium at the end of last season, making nine
League Two appearances, and Coleman is keen to bring the
player back to the club for the new campaign.
Reds chairman Eric Whalley told the Lancashire Telegraph:
"He'll be talking to Liverpool about taking Godwin on for a
full season-long deal."
(Sky Sports)
Reds face Yossi fight
Sven Goran Eriksson is hoping to hijack Liverpool’s move for
Yossi Benayoun.
The Manchester City manager-elect has already earmarked his
first transfer target, even before signing his three-year
contract at Eastlands.
And he wants West Ham’s Israeli captain.
The Reds made an initial bid in excess of £1.5m more than a
week ago for the midfielder, but it was instantly dismissed
by West Ham.
The Reds have not made a renewed offer, hoping The Hammers’
desire to recruit a striker will lead to a possible exchange
deal with Craig Bellamy.
And Benayoun is prepared to be patient.
(Liverpool Echo)
Hungarian duo want to shine
Young Hungarian strikers Krisztian Nemeth and Andras Simon
are hoping to make a name for themselves at Liverpool.
The Reds signed 18-year-old Nemeth and 17-year-old Simon
from MTK Budapest after the two clubs reached an agreement.
The pair hope to form a solid partnership at Anfield and
progress through the ranks to Rafa Benitez's first-team
squad.
"We're moving to Liverpool on June 25 and we hope that in a
year or two we can make our debut in the first team," Nemeth
told skysports.com.
"I'm very happy with this co-operation, I think this is
great news for our whole country, it's a big honour."
Simon added: "We want to play regular football in the
reserves and we will do our best to step forward as soon as
it's possible."
Nemeth has already received one call-up to the Hungarian
national team but has
not played.
He has, however, already represented his country at U21
level.
"I'd love to play in the national team and I hope that soon
I can make my debut. But of course it's always up to the
national coach [Peter Varhidi] if he invites me or not."
(Sky Sports) |
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MONDAY 25 |
Atletico say no Reds Torres offer
Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo says Liverpool have
not tabled a bid for striker Fernando Torres.
Champions League finalists Liverpool have been closely
linked with the 23-year-old Spain international.
"We've had no offer from Liverpool for Torres," said Cerezo.
"He's on his holiday and resting.
"I repeat that there has been nothing about Torres from any
team. We're now working to create a good team for the coming
year," added Cerezo.
Torres, 23, scored 14 league goals in 36 starts this season
as Atletico finished seventh in La Liga.
The Spanish international's Atletico contract runs until
2009.
Torres came up though the youth ranks at Atletico and has
been their leading scorer in each of the last five seasons.
(BBC Sport Online)
Diouf hopeful over Cisse bid
Marseille chairman Pape Diouf remains confident of signing
Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse.
Cisse looks set to leave Liverpool permanently this summer
with Reds boss Rafa Benitez saying they will not consider
any loan offers for the French international.
Former Auxerre ace Cisse spent the whole of last season on
loan at Marseille and the club were keen to explore the
option of keeping the fleet-footed forward in another loan
deal.
However, they now accept that Liverpool will only allow him
to leave on a permanent basis and Marseille are ready to
table a bid for Cisse.
Bolton are also in the race for Cisse with the player's
agent revealing last week Sammy Lee was keen to bring the
player to the Reebok Stadium.
Diouf is optimistic Marseille will win the battle for
Cisse's signature as the Stade Velodrome is the player's
first choice destination.
"The discussions are still possible with Liverpool," Diouf
told La Provence.
"Djibril doesn't want to play anywhere else other than
Marseille."
(Sky Sports)
Cisse on table as part of Torres deal
Djibril Cisse's agents are reportedly bidding to persaude
Atletico Madrid to accept the Frenchman as a makeweight in
the Fernando Torres deal.
Liverpool are currently well off meeting Atletico's
valuation for Torres and their bid of £16million plus Luis
Garcia has been knocked back.
The Spaniards, knowing Liverpool will not pay their
£27million asking price, have reportedly asked for Peter
Crouch in part-exchange but Rafa Benitez is keen to hold on
to the England frontman.
Instead, he has instructed Cisse to open negotiations with
Atletico, according to Spanish newspaper AS.
(TEAMtalk)
Torres nears exit door
Atletico Madrid have had a 17 million-euros-plus-Mista bid
turned down for Diego Forlan.
But the offer is the first indication that Atletico are
preparing for life without Fernando Torres.
The 23-year-old Spanish international is wanted by Reds boss
Rafa Benitez, and both parties now appear to be jockeying
for position.
Torres’ agent, Antonio Sanz, has described a reported offer
from the Reds of £16m plus Luis Garcia as “insufficient – if
you keep in mind that Fernando guarantees you 15 goals per
year, especially when Nani, an unknown player, cost
Manchester United £20m.”
(Liverpool Echo)
Kewell lifted by return
Liverpool forward Harry Kewell claims his recent injury
problems could be a blessing in disguise and ultimately help
him extend his career.
The injury-plagued Australia international returned from a
season on the sidelines to feature in the Reds' final two
games of the last campaign.
The 28-year-old, who has just 12 months remaining on his
Anfield contract, will play for Australia in next month's
Asian Cup.
"I'm in tip-top shape. In the 11 months I was out my body
could relax and it allowed me to get over the injuries, but
I'm back, feeling good and really raring to go," he said.
"It was tough, but the manager supported me through the
whole thing.
"It wasn't something he was happy about, but it happened.
I've got a year left at Liverpool and I can't wait to get
back into it.
"In a way my injuries were a good thing because it gave me
the rest I needed, as I was going for long time up until the
injury.
"I had 11 months away from the pitch, although I was working
hard in rehab. But to get that rest was perfect and that
could prolong my career for another two or three
years maybe."
(Football UK)
Ex-Red to join MK Dons
Former Liverpool midfielder Paul Ince is to be appointed MK
Dons' new manager.
After saving the seemingly doomed Macclesfield Town from
relegation in his first season as a manager, Ince has been
lined up as boss of the MK Dons.
MK Dons and Macclesfield have agreed a compensation deal and
Ince will be unveiled as Franchise FC's new manager later
today.
(LFC Online)
Atletico want Pete in Torres swap
Atletico Madrid have reportedly told Liverpool they will
only do business over Fernando Torres if Peter Crouch comes
as part of the deal.
The Daily Star claims the two clubs are £8million apart in
their valuation for Spain international Torres, and while
the Reds are believed to have offered Luis Garcia in
part-exchange Atletico would favour the arrival of Crouch.
(TEAMtalk)
Cisse deal can raise stakes in Torres bid
Liverpool will step up their attempt to sell Djibril Cisse
before the end of the week – and boost their chances of
landing Fernando Torres into the bargain.
It looks increasingly likely that Liverpool will have to
smash their record transfer outlay by more than £10million
to land the Atletico Madrid striker as his club stick
steadfastly to their refusal to shift from a release clause
in the region of £27million.
Manager Rafael Benitez has given no indication that his
transfer budget can stretch this far on one player and is
lining up a series of targets as back-up.
But netting a fee in the region of £8m for Cisse, who is
Liverpool’s record buy after his £14m switch from Auxerre in
2004, will help raise the money for a bid that will capture
23-year-old Atletico skipper Torres.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Thor Zakariassen
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