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THURSDAY 30 |
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Liverpool agree a deal for Hobbs
Liverpool have confirmed they have agreed a deal with
Lincoln for highly-rated teenager Jack Hobbs.
A proposed move to Arsenal for Hobbs, 16, broke down when
the Gunners refused to include a sell-on clause.
Lincoln director Keith Rowe earlier told BBC Radio
Lincolnshire: "I have sent a proposal to a major Premiership
club in the north west."
The deal is subject to Hobbs successfuly coming through a
week-long trial which will take place next week.
(BBC Sport Online)
Diao considers Reds exit
Liverpool midfielder Salif Diao is considering leaving
Anfield.
The Senegal international is keen to be playing regularly
after failing to establish himself at Liverpool.
Diao spent the second half of last season on loan at
Birmingham, but his stay at St Andrews was interrupted by a
series of injuries which killed off any chance of a
permanent move.
Atletico Madrid have been linked with the defensive
midfielder and although the player’s agent Charles Collymore
is unaware of interest from the capital club, he admits a
number of English and Spanish teams are tracking Diao.
“I am currently looking at options for Salif and there are
clubs from Spain and England looking at him,” Collymore told
skysports.com.
“Salif has two years left on his contract and I believe if
he was to receive a good offer he would consider it."
Lens have also been linked Diao, but Collymore does not
believe that the player will return to France at the minute
with Spain and England his likeliest destination.
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
Sammy Lee joins Bolton
Former Liverpool coach and player Sammy Lee has joined
Bolton as assistant to manager Sam Allardyce. Lee has left
his role as full-time coach for the Football Association but
will continue in a part-time basis.
Lee left Liverpool last summer when Rafa Benitez arrived, it
is widely claimed that Lee wanted to the assistant manager's
role at Anfield after many years as coach.
Lee joins Bolton on the eve of their first European campaign
and will continue to help England as they prepare for the
World Cup next summer.
Becoming assistant to Allardyce could well be another step
closer to the experienced coach one day becoming a manager.
(This is Anfield)
Kirkland agrees to join West Brom
Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has chosen West Brom
over Celtic as his destination for a season-long loan.
Kirkland, 24, wants to stay in the Premiership to prove his
fitness and win back his England squad place.
He will join up with the Baggies on Friday for a two-week
period of training and assessment with a view to signing a
loan deal on 15 July.
(BBC Sport Online)
Slavia complaint aims to scupper Reds'
seeding
Liverpool still face Champions League headaches
as Slavia Prague have lodged an official complaint to UEFA
over their prospective seeding demotion to accommodate the
Reds.
Slavia, who finished runner up in last season’s Czech First
Division, will lose their place as one of the seeded teams
should Liverpool make it through to the third and final
qualifying round.
That would result in the Czech side facing a much tougher
task in qualifying for the lucrative group stage, and
potentially losing out on a significant amount of revenue if
they fail to do so.
Czech FA secretary-general Petr Fousek last week warned UEFA
of a planned protest, and now both the club and organisation
have delivered as they are determined not to lose out.
The problem has arisen after UEFA recently granted Liverpool
special dispensation to defend the European Cup they won in
such dramatic fashion against AC Milan last month.
A section of the protest sent to UEFA reads: “Conforming to
all the principles of honest sport competition, honoured by
UEFA, we think it is fair for Slavia Prague to remain at the
head of the group at the third preliminary round of the
Champions League.”
Fousek is hoping UEFA will resolve the matter as he said:
“We respect UEFA’s decision and understand some arguments.
“But on the other hand we don’t want to see Slavia Prague
deprived of its position.”
(BreakingNews.ie)
Rafa and the lads board The Mirror's
poverty battlebus
Liverpool players took time off from pre-season training
yesterday to board The Mirror newspaper's 'Make Poverty
History' red battlebus which is currently touring the UK.
The Mirror's bus is heading to Edinburgh where the world's
leaders meet for the G8 summit on Saturday. Along the way
they're selling wristbands and collecting names for a
petition to try and stamp out poverty.
Manager Rafael Benitez along with Jamie Carragher, Fernando
Morientes, Didi Hamann, Djibril Cisse, Xavi Alonso, Djimi
Traore, Antonio Nunez, Josemi and Steven Gerrard all
insisted on supporting The Mirror's campaign by boarding the
bus.
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard said: "We made history by
winning the European Cup for the fifth time in May but that
means nothing in comparison with making poverty history.
That would be absolutely unbelievable."
Team-mate Jamie Carragher added: "It's just great to be
involved in all of this. All the lads are delighted to
support Live 8. The Daily Mirror bus is fantastic - and just
the right colour. Good luck on your journey all the way to
Edinburgh."
(Kop Talk)
Liverpool open talks with Gerrard and
Carragher
Liverpool have opened talks on new contracts for both Steven
Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.
The influential pair have two years left on their existing
deals and are both represented by agent Struan Marshall. An
initial meeting was held with Liverpool chief executive Rick
Parry yesterday. Talks were described as "constructive" with
further meetings planned.
(Daily Post)
Madrid dismiss Owen exit rumours
Real Madrid have moved to end rumours about the future of
Michael Owen by insisting the striker is not for sale.
The 25-year-old, who has had limited Bernabeu starts, has
been linked with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United.
But Real director of football Arrigo Sacchi told the Daily
Star: "Owen is not for sale because he is part of our coach
Wanderley Luxemburgo's plans.
"Some things written about who is coming to and leaving Real
are almost as incredible as science fiction."
And Sacchi denied that Chelsea had been pursuing Owen or any
of their players.
"Chelsea have not been in touch with us to make an offer for
him, or in recent times for any of our players."
(BBC Sport Online) |
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WEDNESDAY 29 |
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Didier: Duo not for sale
Monaco boss Didier Deschamps has insisted Patrice Evra and
Emmanuel Adebayor must stay at Stade Louis II.
Evra has attracted interest from Liverpool while Arsenal
were confirmed as one of Adebayor's suitors by the striker
himself.
Deschamps, however, has no intention of off-loading the duo.
"What people say about their transfers, it is only twaddle,"
he informed L'Equipe.
"They have three years of contract left and the minimum they
can do is respect it, even if talks, situations and
improvements are always possible.
"Only a big offer could make us think about it.
"But there is one percent of chance and nothing concrete so
far."
(Sky Sports)
Reds star's dad 'sounded drunk'
Jamie Carragher's father was accused of being drunk at a
football match because stewards could not understand his
Scouse accent, a court heard.
The father of the Liverpool star was convicted at Birmingham
magistrates, but a defence witness said his Liverpudlian
tones were to blame.
Football agent Struam Marshall, who represents Jamie
Carragher and Steven Gerrard, said Gary Carragher's "broad
Scouse accent and gravelly voice" made a steward think he
was drunk.
Deputy District Judge Gwyn Jones found the 51-year-old
guilty of being drunk while trying to enter a football
ground, but lifted an order banning him from every ground in
the country.
Jamie Carragher's friend Michael Laffey, aged 30, of
Fazakerley, was cleared of the same charge.
The pair were arrested at an England game on February 9.
Gary Carragher spent a night in the cells, before being
released on bail.
Speaking after the case, Carragher said: "I am delighted I
can see my son play football again, but I'm not happy with
the verdict, it wasn't fair. But at least the banning
order's gone, that's what I wanted."
(Liverpool Echo)
Arteta not on way to Anfield
Mikel Arteta does not intend to cross Stanley Park and join
Liverpool - but the Spanish midfielder is angry at
suggestions he is holding Everton to ransom.
Talks between the Blues and the Real Sociedad star have
stalled - and rumours circulating the city for the past
fortnight culminated in reports today, claiming the Spanish
midfielder was set to make a controversial switch to
Anfield.
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry dismissed the claim,
while Arteta's agent, Luis Ignatio Ibanez, has been angered
by comments attributed to his client.
"There is no truth in the Liverpool links," he said.
"But I read comments yesterday on the internet and in some
English newspapers, which Mikel is supposed to have said,
and they are not true also.
"Mikel has not given an interview to any journalist in the
last two months and I am angry with the way he has been
portrayed.
"He wants to go to Everton, he wants to play in the
Champions League next season but he has to be careful about
his decisions."
(Liverpool Echo)
Liverpool arrange pre-season friendly
against Wrexham
Liverpool Football Club have arranged a friendly against
Wrexham to be played at the Racecourse Stadium on Saturday
9th July just three days ahead of Liverpool's Champions
League tie against TNS at Anfield.
(Kop Talk)
Benitez's rebuilding begins with Zenden
Liverpool will open talks with Boudewijn Zenden on Friday as
Rafael Benitez steps up his squad rebuilding.
The 28-year-old is out of contract at Middlesbrough at the
end of the week after failing to agree a new deal with the
Teesiders.
Portuguese side Benfica have been linked with Zenden in
recent weeks, while clubs from Spain, Turkey and Greece are
all under-stood to be interested.
But Liverpool have moved into pole position in the race to
sign the versatile midfielder, who has been swayed by the
promise of Champions League football.
And the player's father Pierre is confident Zenden's future
will be sorted within the next week.
"Money is not an issue for Boudewijn," he said.
(Daily Post)
Liverpool open talks with Gerrard
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will open talks about a new
long-term Anfield contract on Wednesday.
Gerrard's agent, Struan Marshall, is scheduled to meet
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry in a bid to finally
thrash out a deal.
Gerrard returned to pre-season training with Liverpool on
Monday, and has insisted he wants his future resolved well
before the start of the new campaign.
(BBC Sport Online) |
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THURSDAY 28 |
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TNS confirm date of CL 2nd leg
TNS have confirmed that the 2nd leg of the first round
qualifier will be played on Tuesday 19th July 2005.
The match will take place at the Racecourse Ground in
Wrexham with kick-off at 8pm.
The first leg will be held at Anfield on July 13, kick-off
7.45pm.
(LFC Official Website)
Bordeaux sign up Cheyrou on loan
Liverpool midfielder Bruno Cheyrou has joined Bordeaux on
loan with a view to a permanent move.
The 27-year-old, who joined Liverpool in 2002, spent last
season at Marseille, appearing in 19 matches for the French
club.
Cheyrou is eager to regain his place in the French squad,
having not been selected since Raymond Domenech became
national team manager.
The midfielder will link-up with former Reds team-mate
Vladimir Smicer.
(BBC Sport Online)
Reds: It's no go Figo
Liverpool retain a passing interest in Real Madrid's
unsettled Galactico, Luis Figo, but the Portuguese
midfielder would have to drop his pay demands dramatically
to secure a move to Anfield.
Fresh reports have claimed that Anfield officials had opened
discussions with Figo's representatives.
But Reds chief executive Rick Parry cooled transfer talk
over the midfielder today.
He confirmed there could be an interest in bringing Figo to
the club, but not while his wages remained at a prohibitive
£90,000 per week.
(Liverpool Echo)
TNS is training for Reds match
Liverpool's Champions League first round opponents Total
Network Solutions also got stuck into training yesterday.
The Welsh double winners were put through their paces by
coach Andy Cale at Vauxhall's Rivacre Park.
(Liverpool Echo)
Benitez sets sights on Govou after transfer
frustration
Rafael Benitez is contemplating a move for Lyon forward
Sidney Govou as he seeks to bolster his striking options.
The Liverpool manager has grown frustrated at the lack of
progress in his attempts to lure attacking targets to
Anfield.
Feyenoord's Dirk Kuyt remains the priority, and although the
player is keen on a transfer the Dutch club would have to
lower their £10million asking price before Liverpool
consider making a move.
Peter Crouch is the preferred alternative, but the £6m
valuation of the England international by Southampton has
proven prohibitive.
It has meant Benitez has started to look elsewhere, with
Lyon striker Govou attracting
his interest.
(Daily Post)
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Thor Zakariassen
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