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THURSDAY 31 |
Bellamy fee puts Villa bid on hold
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is cooling his interest in
Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy after learning he would cost
between £10-12million.
(TEAMtalk)
Benitez warns Hyypia admirers
Rafa Benitez today confirmed the club will not listen to
offers for veteran defender
Sami Hyypia.
The big Finn has been the subject of transfer speculation of
late – despite declaring his intent to stay on Merseyside.
Benitez has now moved to quash any links once and for all.
"It's true I spoke to Sami and I told him I wanted him to
stay," said the Spaniard.
"I expect Sami to be with us for the start of pre-season. He
is a good professional and it's not easy to find defenders
with his experience.
"I told Sami I need him here and the positive thing is he
wants to stay with us."
(LFC Official Website)
Malouda reveals Reds interest
Lyon star Florent Malouda has revealed Liverpool are hoping
to sign him.
The French international is seeking to leave Lyon for a new
challenge with a top European side.
Malouda claims Liverpool are leading the hunt to sign him,
but that there is also interest from several Spanish sides
in his signature.
Liverpool are thought to be in the market for a new
left-sided winger with Boudewijn Zenden and Mark Gonzalez
set to move on and Reds boss Rafa Benitez is believed to
have made Malouda his top target.
Malouda says he would be interested in a possible move to
Liverpool and he is hoping to have his future resolved soon.
"There are contacts with Liverpool but they haven't made an
offer to Lyon yet," Malouda told Football365.
"They are a good club and play in the English league, which
is very interesting.
"I have no preference, I can also move to Spain. It depends
on the club's ambition and their desire to sign me.
"I don't know if my transfer price is €25 million
(£17million), it could also be €35million (£27million).
"Anyway the money won't be in my pocket so I don't care."
(Sky Sports)
Agent hints at Alves departure
Daniel Alves' agent has put Real Madrid, Barcelona,
Liverpool and Milan on red alert after suggesting the player
could leave Sevilla.
The four European giants are all known admirers of the
24-year-old Brazilian ace and will be monitoring the
situation closely after Jose Rodriguez Baster said that now
would be the perfect time for his client to take on a new
challenge with one of the world's top clubs.
Alves has been courted by many clubs throughout Europe after
some impressive performances for Sevilla this season and
Baster says now is the time for the club to cash in on their
prize asset.
"This type of player always ends up moving because that is
the way the market dictates it," the agent told Punto Radio.
"One has to be realistic and recognise that the best players
always end up playing for the biggest clubs.
"I am not saying that Sevilla are not a big club, but they
are a level behind some on both a sporting and an economic
front.
(Clubcall Sports)
Reds announce first pre-season friendlies
A Liverpool XI will play Peterborough United on Saturday
21st July (kick-off 3pm).
Tickets for the testimonial for Posh goalkeeper Mark Tyler
have already gone on sale at London Road. Liverpool have yet
to announce details for away fans.
The Reds will also play in the Port Of Rotterdam tournament
in Holland. They face Shanghai Shenhua on 3rd August and
Feyenoord two days later.
(LFC Online)
Che unmoved by Silva talk
Valencia are not concerned about the speculation surrounding
the future of David Silva, but are considering revising his
current contract to ward off any suitors.
In recent weeks Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur
have all been linked with the left-sided midfielder.
Despite that, the Mestalla outfit are not panicking as
sporting director, Amedeo Carboni, revealed that they will
not be hurried into renegotiating terms.
"At the moment we would not feel the need to renew his
contract, which is a very good contract," the Italian
explained to Marca.
"But maybe we could offer a reward of some sort, something
that the club has already done before.
"It would not be a completely new contract, but like what
happened six months after David Villa joined, we could
revise his current deal.
"This club has shown before that it is always behind its
players."
(Sky Sports)
Rafa pleased with Hungarian swoop
Rafael Benitez is delighted with his double signing earlier
this week.
On Monday Liverpool confirmed they had beaten a number of
clubs to sign Hungarian duo Krisztian Nemeth and Andras
Simon. Their capture pleased Rafa Benitez.
"We have been watching these players for a long time," said
the Liverpool boss.
"There were a lot of big clubs interested in them, such as
Real Madrid, Ajax and
PSV Eindhoven.
"It's never easy for a young player to settle in England,
but we know they have outstanding ability and we're really
thankful to the president of their club for his fantastic
co-operation in our negotiations."
(LFC Online)
Liverpool enter full-back chase
Liverpool are believed to have joined Newcastle in the race
to sign Wigan defender Leighton Baines, as Rafa Benitez
seeks a left back.
With John Arne Riise providing the only left-footed option
at left-back, with Fabio Aurelio showing he is more
comfortable in midfield, Benitez is keen to add another
full-back during the close season.
(Clubcall Sports) |
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WEDNESDAY 30 |
Bellamy is set for Rovers return
Blackburn Rovers are set to put their pursuit of James
Beattie on hold - to try to lure Craig Bellamy away from
Liverpool.
Rovers were preparing a move for Beattie earlier in the week
but will concentrate on landing other top targets before
pressing ahead with a bid to bring him back to the club
where he began his career.
And Bellamy is top of the list drawn up by Ewood manager
Mark Hughes, who has overseen the Welshman’s best form of
his career at both club and country level.
The price could be a stumbling block as Liverpool look to
make a significant gain on the £6million that triggered
Bellamy’s exit clause last summer.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Reds must act fast to get the right
players
One thing became crystal clear in the aftermath of
Liverpool’s defeat in Athens – Rafa Benitez is frustrated.
While the Liverpool boss was forthright about his plans for
the future, and the fact he is looking to the club for the
backing he clearly needs, you sensed an air of agitation
over the present state of things at Anfield.
The Reds boss has suggested the club hasn’t really moved on
in the two years since Istanbul. He feels the squad needs
more quality in order to compete with the Chelseas and Man
Uniteds, and he wants speedier action on the transfer
targets.
His comment “we can’t be working looking for players in
August, because then you end up with the second or third
choice on your list,” is an indication of what has happened
in the past.
Whether previous stars slipped the net, whether transfer
dealings dragged out and whether enough money was readily
available to the boss for top targets (prior to the arrival
of the new American owners) only chief executive Rick Parry
will know.
But now, in the new climate, Benitez can’t hang around as he
attempts to build a squad capable of mounting a serious
Premiership challenge.
(Tommy Smith - Liverpool Echo)
Benitez’s positive outlook
Rafa Benitez says his plea for immediate action at Anfield
to revive Liverpool’s morale after the Champions League
final defeat has been met with a positive response from the
American owners.
The Liverpool boss was in a much more positive frame of mind
today than during his hard-hitting press conference in
Athens last Thursday.
A key conference call involving Benitez, Rick Parry, George
Gillett and Tom Hicks has gone some way to ironing out many
of the differences between the most important men at the
club.
Benitez is keeping his cards close to his chest on the
identity of the players he’s hoping to recruit – and has no
idea how much will be available to spend – but believes
he’ll get the green light to make several necessary
purchases in the months ahead.
“Rick (Parry) and I had a good meeting when we spoke to the
owners and we all agreed what’s important is for everyone to
work together to do the right things for the club,”
said Benitez.
(Liverpool Echo)
Reds confirm Rotterdam tournament games
Liverpool Football Club today officially confirmed that they
will be entering the 2007 Port of Rotterdam Tournament in
Holland this summer.
The Reds will play two games in August as part of their
pre-season preparations on a weekend that sees teams from
four of the biggest port cities in the world compete in
Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe.
On Friday August 3, Liverpool will take on Shanghai Shenhua,
one of the best teams from the emerging Chinese Super
League. Two days later, on August 5, they play host club
Feyenoord.
FC Porto will play Feyenoord after Liverpool's match on the
Friday and will take on Shanghai Shenhua before Rafa's side
close the tournament on the Sunday evening.
(LFC Official Website)
Carson in under 21's squad
Scott Carson has been named in the England under 21's squad
for the European Championships.
The Liverpool goalkeeper, who spent all of last season on
loan at Charlton, has been named in Stuart Pearce's under
21's squad for the European Championships in Holland,
starting on June 10th.
(LFC Online)
Reds recruit teen midfielder
Liverpool have added another young prospect to
their ranks in the shape of Swedish teenager Alexander
Kacaniklic.
The midfielder first impressed during a 12-day trial at
Anfield in February, before shining again in April, and has
now signed a three-year contract to move to England.
Explaining his decision to leave Helsingborgs, the
15-year-old expressed his belief that his career will be
better served on Merseyside.
"It's at this age you develop the most and the conditions
are much better at Liverpool," Kacaniklic told Helsingborgs
Dagblad.
Rafa Benitez is currently plotting an overhaul of his first
team squad, and the acquisition of the young midfielder is
another step in his side project to freshen up his reserve
options.
The Reds also completed deals for Hungarian teenagers
Krisztian Nemeth and Andras Simon on Monday.
(Sky Sports)
Riise: I'm not on Rafa's hit list
John Arne Riise has denied that he will be a victim of Rafa
Benitez's Liverpool cull, as the Norwegian expects to
discuss a contract extension over the summer.
The Spanish boss is expected to dispose of a number of his
first team squad in the coming months as he aims to build a
side capable of challenging for the Premiership.
Mark Gonzalez and Bolo Zenden have been told they have no
future at Anfield, whilst Craig Bellamy and Sami Hyypia have
also been linked with a possible exit.
However, Riise remains confident that he has a place in
Benitez's plans for next season, and is hoping to discuss a
new deal before the start of the new campaign
"I know he would have called at once it if was true that he
wanted to offload me," Riise told Nettavisen.
"I have had full confidence at Liverpool for six years and
see no reason to stop at
the club.
"The plan is that we shall talk about a contract extension
before the season starts."
(Sky Sports)
Liverpool tops online Premiership
Liverpoolfc.tv is the most popular football club website in
England according to a new Online Premiership table.
The Reds beat Manchester United in second, with Arsenal
third and Chelsea fourth.
The research, carried out by internet analysts NetRatings
based on each club's share of the domestic online audience,
threw up a few surprises, with Wolves, QPR and Bristol
Rovers all featuring prominently.
(LFC Official Website)
McClaren has faith in midfield duo
Steve McClaren insists Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard can
link well together in England's midfield - and he has the
statistics to prove it.
The return of forgotten man David Beckham to the
international fold signals the end of McClaren's experiment
with Gerrard in the right-sided role.
Gerrard's flexibility was one of the reasons the England
coach felt he could cope without the man who was so integral
to the work of predecessor Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Now, with his side hitting the point of no return in their
bid to reach Euro 2008, McClaren has abandoned the plan,
bringing back Beckham and restoring Gerrard into his
favoured central slot.
Yet that move has only re-opened the old debate surrounding
the effectiveness of Lampard and Gerrard in the same
midfield pairing.
In the past it has been suggested the pair inhibit each
other, with neither man reaching anywhere close to the
heights they hit so often at club level.
But McClaren has done some research. And he feels there is
no reason to believe England cannot succeed with Lampard and
Gerrard in the engine room.
(TEAMtalk) |
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TUESDAY 29 |
Hyypia: I'm in rafa's plans
Sami Hyypia insists that Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has
told him he has a future
at Anfield.
Newcastle, Wigan, Fulham, Sunderland and Reading have all
been strongly linked with a move for the veteran stopper.
Indeed it was reported that Hyyia was locked in talks about
his future after being told he could leave Liverpool.
However, Hyypia says that Benitez has told him he wants him
to remain at the club and see out of the last year of his
current contract.
According to Hyypia, he met with Benitez just before the
UEFA Champions League final with Milan and he assured him of
his future.
"Rafa said, 'We are happy with you and you are not for
sale.'"Hyypia told Ilta-Sanomat.
"I will go back to Liverpool in July for pre-season
training.
"Next season will be my ninth in Liverpool and I still have
one-year left on my current contract."
Hyypia is currently back in his homeland preparing for Euro
2008 qualifiers against Serbia and Belgium.
(Sky Sports)
Villa plan double raid on Reds
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is set for a double raid on
Liverpool with Craig Bellamy and Harry Kewell in his sights,
according to reports.
The Liverpool Echo claims that Villa boss Martin O'Neill is
planning to move for both Wales striker Bellamy and
Australian winger Kewell in the summer.
Liverpool apparently want as much as £12million for Bellamy,
but Kewell could be available at a knock-down price after
injuries restricted him to just three substitute appearances
last season.
Spurs are also reportedly interested in Kewell, as Liverpool
boss Rafa Benitez looks to free up space and money in his
squad for his summer transfer plans.
(TEAMtalk)
Parry confirms chase for Simao
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has confirmed the club
are still interested in signing Portuguese winger Simao
Sabrosa.
The Benfica star has been a long-term target of Rafa
Benitez, and was in fact given permission to fly to Anfield
for a medical in August 2005.
On that occasion the Portuguese club pulled out of the £10
million deal, but now it seems that the Champions League
finalists are ready to renew their interest in the player.
Furthermore, Parry claimed that a swap deal involving
striker Djibril Cisse could be on
the cards.
Cisse has spent the season on loan at Marseille, and while
he favours a move to either an English or a Spanish club, he
may be interested in the switch to Portugal.
Speaking to Portuguese daily A Bola, Parry said: "There are
players we are interested in and Simao is one.
"But we have made no contact with Benfica. A swap with Cisse
could be a possibility."
(TEAMtalk)
Agger aiming for Moscow
Daniel Agger is hoping for another European Cup final.
Agger says the best way Liverpool can put the disappointment
of Athens behind them is to quickly reach another European
Cup final, hopefully next season's in Moscow.
"I was disappointed some hours after the match, but that
doesn't help," said the Dane.
"It's a game and it is not possible to win every time. I
would like to try and win the Champions League and that
requires a lot of hard work and not to look back."
(LFC Online)
Reds eye Malouda raid
Liverpool will reportedly make a £10million bid for Lyon's
French international Florent Malouda this week.
Manager Rafael Benitez held talks with owners Tom Hicks and
George Gillett last week, and was reassured that he would be
given the money to pursue his summer transfer targets.
And the Daily Mirror understands Malouda is near the top of
his wish-list, which also includes Sevilla's Daniel Alves,
Gabriel Milito of Real Zaragoza and Barcelona's star striker
Samuel Eto'o.
French footballer of the year Malouda has indicated he wants
his future sorted quickly while Lyon president Jean-Michel
Aulas insists a deal, which would cost around £10-15million,
must be done by the end of June.
(Sporting Life) |
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MONDAY 28 |
Reds agree double Hungarian swoop
Liverpool have moved swiftly to bolster their reserve ranks
by agreeing deals to sign Hungarian pair Krisztian Nemeth
and Andras Simon from MTK Hungaria.
Nemeth, 18, and Simon, 17, appeared for Hungary in last
year's UEFA Under-17 Championships.
The duo are both strikers, although Nemeth also plays in
midfield.
(LFC Official Website)
L'OM come calling for Cisse
Marseille claim they will open discussions with Liverpool
this week over the signing of Djibril Cisse.
Cisse has spent the past season on loan at L'OM, helping the
Stade Velodrome club to claim second place and UEFA
Champions League qualification for next season.
However, whether Cisse will be rubbing shoulders with
Europe's finest for Marseille is still not known.
The France international is surplus to requirements at
Liverpool but he still has two years remaining on his
Anfield contract.
A deal would suit all parties, but a sticking point could be
the fee involved, with The Reds keen to recoup a large swath
of the £14million they paid Auxerre for the player three
years ago.
Marseille chairman Pape Diouf is quoted in the Times: "There
is room for manoeuvre between what both sides want.
"We will discuss things this week."
(Sky Sports)
Craig wants end to uncertainty
Out-of-favour Liverpool forward Craig Bellamy is desperate
to end speculation over
his future.
Bellamy's omission from The Reds' UEFA Champions League
final defeat last week appears to have signalled the death
knell for his Liverpool career after just one season
at Anfield.
While Rafa Benitez is believed to be willing to cash in on
the Welshman, the Spaniard has put what could prove a
prohibitive £12million valuation on the player's head.
Bellamy gave potential suitors food for thought with his
two-goal performance for Wales against New Zealand but the
firebrand forward would prefer his future to be resolved
sooner rather than later.
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is a long-term admirer of
the player, who also interests West Ham and former club
Blackburn.
"It would be nice if I had a summer without speculation.
Everywhere I go there is speculation," Bellamy told the
Daily Star.
"There was talk of Aston Villa wanting me within a couple of
months of me arriving at Liverpool and that situation
doesn't seem to have gone away."
(Sky Sports)
Liverpool deals put on hold for
internationals
Rafael Benitez’s hopes of finalising new contracts for
several key players this week could be frustrated by
international commitments.
The Liverpool manager, who had put talks on hold until after
last week’s Champions League final against AC Milan, is keen
to conclude negotiations as he begins the process of
rebuilding his squad.
Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher have agreed to new deals
while Pepe Reina has intimated he wants to extend his stay
at the club.
But Benitez is likely to have to wait for the trio to put
pen to paper given they are involved in Euro 2008
qualifiers.
Steve Finnan will also sign a new contract, and Benitez is
hopeful Xabi Alonso can agree a fresh deal despite interest
from Barcelona.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Former Red agrees new deal
Former Red Patrik Berger has agreed to sign a one-year
contract extension at Villa Park.
Berger joined Villa in July 2005 on a free transfer from
Portsmouth
(Webmaster)
Crouch reassured over Reds future
Liverpool and England striker Peter Crouch has
been reassured about his Anfield future by Reds manager
Rafael Benitez.
The Spaniard has stressed the need for the beaten Champions
League finalists to spend big and spend quick this summer.
But England striker Crouch, linked with a possible move to
Newcastle, is adamant that he has not been earmarked for the
exit door at Anfield to make room for new signings.
"He's (Benitez) told me I'm part of his plans and that's
good enough for me," Crouch told Sky Sports News.
"At a club like Liverpool there's going to be competition
for places, especially as the manager likes to chop and
change."
Last season Crouch battled for a starting place up front
with Dirk Kuyt, Craig Bellamy and Robbie Fowler.
Fowler has not been offered a new deal and Bellamy has been
strongly linked with a move away from Anfield but Benitez is
bound to bring in replacements so it seems likely that
Crouch will face a renewed threat to his place next season.
(TEAMtalk)
Thor Zakariassen
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