Red News                                

      


JULY           2007
4 5 6

 

 
    

FRIDAY 6
Stockport starlet set for Reds
Stockport youngster Ryan Crowther will join Liverpool after the two clubs agreed an undisclosed fee for the winger.
Liverpool took Crowther and Greg Tansey to an international tournament in Milan and the 18-year-old impressed sufficiently to earn a move to
The Reds.
Crowther has already agreed personal terms and will move to Anfield once he passes a medical on Merseyside.
He will join former Stockport starlet Ben Robinson at Liverpool after the 14-year-old goalkeeper signed for the Premier League club recently.

(Sky Sports) 
 
Marseille close in on Cisse switch

France striker Djibril Cisse looks set to complete a permanent move to Marseille after the Mediterranean club reached “an agreement in principle” with Liverpool.
Cisse spent last season on loan with Marseille but remained a Liverpool player.
However, the 25-year-old hitman now looks likely to sign a four-year deal with the French club.
A statement on Marseille website, www.om.net, read: “As well as signing Boudewijn Zenden, Marseille have also reached an agreement in principle with Liverpool for the transfer of Djibril Cisse.”
(Ireland On-Line)

Zenden poised to join Marseille
Marseille have announced they are set to sign former Liverpool midfield man Boudewijn Zenden on a free transfer.
Zenden, 30, was released by Liverpool after playing in the Champions League final defeat against AC Milan in May.
He will sign a two-year deal with Marseille once he has successfully completed a medical.
Zenden has played for PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Chelsea, Middlesbrough and Liverpool, but was troubled by injuries at Anfield.
He has played 54 times for Holland but not since September 2004.
Marseille qualified for this season's Champions League after finishing second in Ligue 1 last term.
(BBC Sport Online)

Liverpool announce Voronin move
Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Ukraine striker Andriy Voronin.
The Reds announced in February that the 27-year-old former Bayer Leverkusen player would be moving to Anfield in the summer on
a free transfer.
"He is a player with pace and good movement," Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez told the club website.
"Andriy plays between defenders. He is a good worker and scores goals. He's the kind of player that can give so much to us."
Voronin began his career at the age of 15 with Borussia Moenchengladbach before moving on to Mainz and Cologne.
He was transfered to Leverkusen in 2004, where he scored 21 goals in
71 league games.
Voronin made his international debut in a friendly against Romania in March 2002.
He has won 44 caps and has scored five goals for Ukraine.
(BBC Sport Online)
  
Carra backs new boy Torres

Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher has welcomed the arrival of Fernando Torres and tipped him to be a big hit in the Barclays Premier League.
Torres joined the Reds for a club record-breaking fee from Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
Carragher is delighted to see a player of his calibre being signed up and believes it's imperative to spend big money if you want to compete at the top level.
"You have a great pedigree there. He is a young lad, very quick, which is good for the Premier League and I'm sure he will do very well," said Carragher.

(LFC Official Website)

Irons set to seal £9m Bellamy deal
West Ham have reportedly agreed a £9million deal for Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy, who is set to sign a four-year contract at Upton Park.

(TEAMtalk)   
 
Mascherano's first goal gives Argentina top spot
Midfielder Javier Mascherano scored his first goal for Argentina to give them a 1-0 win over Paraguay and top spot in their Copa America group on Thursday.
Mascherano picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area and scored with a cleverly-placed shot into the bottom left-hand corner of Aldo Bobadilla's goal shortly after coming on as substitute for his 27th appearance.
The win meant Argentina avoided a difficult quarter-final against Mexico and will instead face Peru, a theoretically easier game, on Sunday.

(Reuters)
THURSDAY 5
West Ham linked to Bellamy swoop
West Ham are the favourites to sign Liverpool's Welsh international striker Craig Bellamy, BBC Sport understands.
The 27-year-old had fallen down the pecking order at Anfield following boss Rafael Benitez's summer signings of Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin.

(BBC Sport Online)

Reds Quaremsa link played down
The Liverpool Echo has played down reports linking Liverpool with a move for FC Porto's flamboyant winger Ricardo Quaresma.
Reports this morning claimed that Liverpool had saw a £13.5m bid for the Portugal forward rejected but a deal could be struck if they raised their bid slightly.
However, Reds' chief executive is quoted as describing the rumours as 'nonsense', although it is unclear whether that is in relation to Liverpool's interest or alleged bid.
The Echo also adds that Liverpool's interest in AS Roma's Brazilian winger Alessandro Mancini has 'cooled'.
Both Quaresma and Mancini are right-sided players who can operate on the left-wing. Both possess outrageous skill and would appear to fit the bill.
Manager Rafael Benitez confirmed yesterday that he wanted to bring in one, maybe two, wingers following the capture of Fernando Torres.
"I am looking for wingers now and though we have to sell I hope that doesn't have to happen first," said the Reds' boss.
"We are getting close with some of the players we are looking at and I believe we can bring a winger in straight away, regardless of outgoing deals."

(Shankly Gates)

Audacious bid made for Fowler
Rafael Benitez says that he is surprised no clubs have made an attempt to sign released striker Robbie Fowler, but ShanklyGates.co.uk can reveal that the Anfield legend has had at least one contract offer on the table...
Fowler was released from the club when his contract expired at the start of the month and, so far, has had no offers. Except one.
Northern Counties East Football League side Glasshoughton Welfare, who signed Fowler's former team-mate Bruce Grobbelaar last season, made the audacious attempt to sign the player known as 'God' on the Kop yesterday.
After speaking with Fowler's agent, club secretary, Lee Beardshaw admitted: "Unfortunately an agreement between the two parties could not be reached.
"After speaking with Mr Scott, Robbie's advisor, it became apparent that it would cost the club significantly more for Robbie to play than we would make back in gate receipts, sponsorship and merchandise sales."

(Shankly Gates)

Internationals back at Melwood today
Rafa Benitez welcomes back the bulk of his Liverpool squad to Melwood today as most of the international stars return for pre-season.
The likes of Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Xabi Alonso were given an extra week's rest due to international commitments after the season finished in May.
They will now join up with the five senior players, as well as the reserves, who returned to Melwood last week.
Harry Kewell, Mark Gonzalez, Javier Mascherano and Emiliano Insua remain on duty for their respective countries, while Fernando Torres will not report for training until July 11.
Rafa Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv: "All of the internationals will start training today. We will see how they are, but normally you could expect them to play next week against Crewe.
"We have only had five senior players back so far. We've had the young players, and you can see the commitment in them. Sometimes you have to tell them to calm down because they tackle hard and fight for each ball."

(LFC Official Website)
WEDNESDAY 4

 
Torres and Rafa - together at Anfield.

Benitez hints at exit for Bellamy
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has placed a major doubt over striker Craig Bellamy's future at the club.
Benitez has added Fernando Torres to his squad and now has five strikers with Bellamy, Peter Crouch, Dirk Kuyt and fellow new signing Andriy Voronin.
Asked, at the unveiling of Torres, if he was happy the player was at the club and part of his plans, Benitez said: "Are you talking about Torres?"
Told Bellamy was the subject, he said: "I'm really happy with Torres here."
He added: "We have some clubs asking about Bellamy and it's a possibility.
"He knows my idea. He is our player at the moment and we will see what happens in the future.
"It is clear we have new players here and then it could be more difficult for some of the players.
"The only thing I can say is that Crouch will be staying with us. I have said to Crouch that he must fight for his position and he will stay with us."

(BBC Sport Online) 
 
Fernando set for Swiss debut

Fernando Torres is likely to make his Liverpool debut against either Werder Bremen or Auxerre when the Reds travel to Switzerland later this month.
The Spaniard will now head back to his homeland after completing his move to Anfield and will not return until July 11.
He is unlikely to feature against either Wrexham on July 7 or Crewe on July 14, but will travel to central Europe with his new teammates on
July 17.
"For sure he will play in Switzerland," Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv.

(LFC Official Website)

Reds seal Torres signing
Liverpool have completed the signing of Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid in a club record deal.
The Spanish international has signed a six-year deal at Anfield after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.
Liverpool have paid a club record £20million to land the highly-rated forward.
Torres flew back to Madrid for a press conference earlier on Wednesday to say goodbye to the Atletico fans and he has flown back to Liverpool to be unveiled as a Reds player.
He will be wearing the famous No.9 shirt next season, which was Robbie Fowler's last term.

(Sky Sports) 
 
Rafa: Fernando Torres passion was key

Fernando Torres’ “passion for Liverpool” was the key to Rafa Benitez smashing Liverpool’s transfer record to land the Spanish striker.
The 23-year-old passed a medical last night and was due to be unveiled at Anfield today.
And delighted boss Benitez said: “Atletico Madrid had better offers and the player had better offers.
“But he always wanted to join Liverpool. That was the key for me.
“We needed to work hard because there were other clubs who wanted him that we knew about - other clubs offering more money.
“But the player said straight away ‘I want to join Liverpool’. He said we were his first choice and that was the key for me."

(Liverpool Echo)  

"Reds onto a winner with star Torres"
Earlier this year, friends of Fernando Torres gave the young Spanish star an unusual birthday present.
It was a captain’s armband bearing the logo: “We’ll never walk alone”.
It was meant simply as a symbol of their friendship, but led to inevitable speculation.
“My group of mates have got that logo tattooed on their arms,” Torres later had to explain. “I have been told about Anfield and how special it is, but I haven’t managed to go yet. I would like to, though.”
Four months later and that innocently intended gift now has real sporting symbolism, with Torres set to make Anfield his new home.
But strangely the signing of a player coveted in the past by Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal, has not met with universal approval from Liverpudlians.
Perhaps it’s the curse of the long awaited “final piece of the jigsaw”.

(Liverpool Echo)

Liverpool to unveil Torres
Liverpool have called a press conference for 3pm on Wednesday, where club record signing Fernando Torres will be paraded before the media.
Torres has already delivered his farewells to the Atletico Madrid faithful and will now travel back to Merseyside for his first appearance in front of the English press.

(Sky Sports)

Torres: I'm joining Europe's number one
Liverpool's new signing Fernando Torres is delighted to have joined "the best club in Europe".
The Spain striker will be unveiled at Liverpool on Wednesday afternoon with the Reds having completed his transfer from his beloved Atletico Madrid for a fee believed to be £26.5million.
"The time comes in the life of a player that he needs more challenges.
"I have always done what was best for the club, too. The Liverpool offer arrived and I only told the club to listen to that offer because that is the team I wanted to play for.
"It's one of the best, if not the best, clubs in Europe."

(TEAMtalk)

McParland takes Bolton role
Former Liverpool chief scout Frank McParland has been appointed as Bolton's first general manager.
Trotters manager Sammy Lee worked with McParland during their time together at The Reds and has now lured the 48-year-old to The Reebok Stadium.
McParland began with Liverpool in 1994 and has risen up the Anfield ranks from a part-time coach to joint chief scout.
Lee believes McParland will be an excellent addition to the Bolton backroom staff as he brings with him a hatful of experience.
"He's a great lad and I know him from my time at Liverpool," Lee told the club's official website.
"We became close friends because of his fantastic work ethic. He's a terrific lad to have around the place and knows the game inside and out.
"Frankie will be an excellent addition to the football club."

(TEAMtalk)

McManaman returns to football
Former England and Liverpool winger Steve McManaman has been appointed to the board of the company buying into Birmingham.
The 35-year-old will take on a role of executive director with Grandtop International to offer advice after they take up their 29.9% stake in the club.
McManaman told the South China Morning Post: "They know my expertise in sport in England and in particular football. I know a lot of people in the sport and I have a lot of contacts.
"I will help out and give ideas as a friend as the people involved in the company are very good friends of mine and hopefully we can have exciting times in the future."
McManaman, who also won the Champions League with Real Madrid and earned 29 England caps, is reported to have helped Yeung set up the deal with Birmingham.
Yeung will become the club's largest shareholder but will not have total control at St Andrews.
McManaman has been out of football since retiring at the end of a stint with Manchester City in 2005. He is planning to work as a media pundit during the coming season.

(TEAMtalk)

Garcia hails Reds
Departing star Luis Garcia has praised the club and the fans.
Garcia yesterday joined Athletico Madrid on a three year contract. He admitted leaving Liverpool was a difficult decision as he had a great time as a Red.
"It was a difficult decision because it hurts to be leaving one of the most important clubs in the world, and a club with one of the best sets of fans," said the European Cup winner.
"I have enjoyed three great years there. There are several different reasons and the decision took a lot of thought, but Liverpool will always be with me because they always treated me very well.
"I have been lucky to win things there, but I did not want to let the opportunity pass to win trophies in Spain."

(LFC Online)


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