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January 31
Fulham chasing Wright
TEAMtalk
Fulham are reported to be poised to make a close-season offer for young Reds defender Stephen Wright, who is out of contract in the summer.
The 21-year-old would be available on a Bosman transfer if he does not sign a new deal, but Liverpool would receive a nominal compensation fee due to his age.
Fulham's interest comes hot on the heels of their interest in Fabian Wilnis of Ipswich as back-up for regular right-back Steve Finnan, and the arrival of Abel Xavier to Anfield to add to Markus Babbel and Jamie Carragher increases the pressure on Wright's first-team appearances.
England Under-21 star Wright has admitted that he does not want to leave the club and that contract talks are ongoing as he tries to resolves his Anfield future, but his recent impressive performances against Manchester United, Arsenal and Leicester have alerted his ability to a host of other clubs.
January 29
Gomes speculation returns
Kop Talk/Footy MAD
Fiorentina striker Nuno Gomes has asked for Fiorentina to cancel his contract to allow him to leave the club.
The Portuguese international striker has been linked with the Reds for months but the speculation cooled after he insisted he wouldn't want to move to the Premiership.
However, the striker has now asked for his contract to be cancelled by cash strapped Fiorentina over claims that they haven't made certain payments to him sparking speculation that Arsenal and Liverpool may try and persuade him to move to England, possibly in the summer.
Team-mate Marco Rossi has also requested that he be released from his contract for the same reasons.
January 28
Saints silent on Bridge talk
TEAMtalk
Southampton are refusing to comment on speculation that Liverpool are to make an imminent £8million bid for England Under-21 star Wayne Bridge.
Bridge has been linked with a move to Anfield over the last six months but the speculation has increased over the last few weeks and there were numerous reports at the weekend suggesting a bid in the region of £8million from Liverpool is imminent.
Gerard Houllier and Phil Thompson are known admirers of the 21-year-old and were further impressed by his displays against them for Saints in the last month.
Furthermore, Jamie Carragher's forthcoming minimum four-match ban for his red card at Highbury yesterday plus a long-term foot injury to Gregory Vignal mean Liverpool are desperately short on defensive cover going into a crucial stage of the season with the Champions League set to resume next month, although Derby centre-back Chris Riggott is still thought to be the number one target.
Bridge only signed a new two-year contract extension with Saints earlier this season that ties him to the club until June 2006.
The left-back, a candidate to be called up to Sven Goran Eriksson's England squad for their friendly against Holland next month, is a local lad and Saints no longer have to sell their best assets so readily following the move to the new stadium at St Mary's.
However, it would be hard for Bridge to turn down a move to such a big club and the chance to play regular European football, if The Reds do decide to follow up their interest.
January 25
Reds tipped to make imminent signing
TEAMtalk
The Reds are being increasingly linked with a signing before the January 31 Champions League deadline with a defender thought to be the priority.
Reports linking Liverpool with a defensive signing have been plentiful in recent months as Markus Babbel's illness and Gregory Vignal's double foot fracture have seen their defensive strength in depth tested to the limit.
Derby's Chris Riggott, Sheffield Wednesday's Leigh Bromby and Gareth Barry of Aston Villa have all been linked with moves to Anfield in recent months as Gerard Houllier looks to add some youthful enthusiasm to his experienced backline.
Talk of a move for Riggott has grown over the Christmas period, with the most common train of thought believing that the 21-year-old will complete a much-anticipated move to Merseyside in the summer.
It could be that Liverpool are lining up a bid for the England Under-21 international before the end of the month to allow him to provide cover for the remainder of the Champions League campaign and Premiership run-in.
Riggott was omitted from Derby's disastrous FA Cup exit at the hands of Bristol Rovers despite being fit for the game, and it has been speculated that he was left out because Liverpool did not want him cup-tied from the competition.
However, the Pride Park club are still without a permanent manager after Colin Todd's sacking earlier in the month, and it is unlikely that the Derby board would sanction the sale of their prized asset without managerial consent.
Meanwhile, it could be that Liverpool are looking to strengthen to their squad elsewhere.
There is no need to add another striker to the list of Michael Owen, Emile Heskey, Jari Litmanen, Milan Baros and the European cup-tied Nicolas Anelka, but a midfield signing would be welcomed after a dismal six weeks for the Reds engine-room.
January 25
Gunners linked with £20million bid for Reds target
Kop Talk/Footy MAD
Arsenal have been linked with a £20million move for a player that Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier has previously said he would like to sign if he ever became available.
West Ham's Michael Carrick is 'reportedly' a £20million target of the Gunners and talks are said to have already taken place between both clubs.
Arsene Wenger apparently sees Carrick as an ideal replacement for Patrick Vieira who looks set to quit the London club in the summer if not before.
Liverpool have been linked with Carrick and his team-mate Joe Cole several times in the past.
Rumours in Liverpool suggest that the Reds were lining up a bid for Carrick in the summer so the interest from Arsenal could have shafted those plans, if indeed they were accurate.
January 21
Kluivert link resurfaces
TEAMtalk
The Spanish press are reporting that Liverpool have made a bid in the region of £20million for Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert.
Reports in the British press over the weekend suggested that Liverpool were looking to the 25-year-old Dutchman to partner Michael Owen and help fire The Reds to further glory in the coming seasons.
Rumours of a £20million bid being lined up were reported, whilst quotes from the Holland international hinting that he fancied a move to England were brought out to support the story.
However, the link seems to have grown in substance with the news that the Catalan Daily Sport is reporting a 5.4billion peseta (£19.98million) bid from the Anfield club for the former AC Milan and Ajax man.
Gerard Houllier is keen to add firepower to his Reds attack after the sale of Robbie Fowler and a dearth of goals from Emile Heskey this season.
Loan signing Nicolas Anelka has yet to convince the Liverpool management team that he is the man they need in the long term, whilst Milan Baros is seen more as a buy for the future.
Kluivert has been linked with a move to Liverpool in the past, and impressed the Anfield backroom staff when Barcelona beat The Reds 3-1 in November - the same game in which Kluivert admitted that the reaction of the Anfield crowd to Barcelona at the end of the game had made a big impression on him.
A Liverpool spokeperson told TEAMtalk: "There is no truth in it whatsoever."
Kluivert's agent, Siggi Lens, was unavailable for comment.
January 20
Liverpool in move for Kluivert
By Peter Fitton/Soccernet
Liverpool have been involved in secret talks aimed at taking £20million-rated Patrick Kluivert to Anfield this summer.
The 25-year-old striker's ambition is to play in England and he almost quit Barcelona six months ago.
Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier identified Kluivert, a close friend of Jari Litmanen, as a target before recruiting Nicolas Anelka on a loan transfer at Christmas and preliminary discussions have already taken place with his financial advisers.
Houllier made a move last summer after an Arsenal bid fell through because the Londoners were not prepared to break their wage structure and match the Dutchman's £3.5milliona-year contract in Spain.
And Liverpool's interest intensified after Kluivert's impressive Champions League display for Barca at Anfield in November.
Kluivert, who has also played for AC Milan, said: "Now England is the dream I am determined to fulfil. When the time is right I will make the move."
January 17
Italian duo eye Sami
TEAMtalk
According to reports from Italy, Inter Milan have joined Juventus in their interest in Liverpool's Finnish defender Sami Hyypia.
Reports circulating yesterday suggested that the Turin club were eyeing Hyypia with a view to making a bid for the 28-year-old Finland international in the summer.
Rumours are rife in Italy that Juve defender Paolo Montero is to leave the Stadio delle Alpi in the summer and Juve are reported to be eyeing Hyypia as his replacement.
However, Internazionale are also rumoured to be casting longing eyes at Anfield, where the former Willem II star has been a revelation in his two-and-a-half years at the club.
He is recognised as one of the Premiership's leading defenders and was named Liverpool's vice-captain when Robbie Fowler was sold to Leeds last year.
Hyypia was named in the UEFA Team of the Year and FIFA World Team of the Year for his performances in Liverpool's cup treble-winning season, a campaign in which he managed to avoid a single booking.
Reds assistant manager Phil Thompson has described reports of an imminent Juve bid for Hyypia, who cost £2.6million from Willem II in 1999, as "absolute nonsense".
January 16
Hyypia tops Juve's wish-list
By Paul Higham/Planet Football
Italian giants Juventus are interested in Liverpool's influential defender Sami Hyypia.
The Finnish international has been the rock that much of Liverpool's recent success has been built upon, and the Italians would love to have such a solid presence in their defence.
With Uruguayan hard-man Paolo Montero looking likely to leave the Stadio delle Alpi, Juve coach Marcello Lippi sees Hyypia as the perfect man to add steel to their defence.
However, Reds coach Gerard Houllier will not allow one of his main stars to leave the club and any bid from Italy is sure to be rejected straight away.
Hyypia has also settled well on Merseyside and is a massive favourite with the Anfield crowd, meaning that Juventus could well move for their second target - Leeds' Jonathan Woodgate.
Juve have tracked Woodgate ever since he burst onto the Premiership scene, and it is thought that his recent court case would not put the Italian's off making a bid for him during the summer should Montero leave.
January 11
Reds eyeing raid for Sinclair
By Andy Hunter/Daily Post
Liverpool are weighing up a move for West Ham United's wantaway winger Trevor Sinclair.
The Reds have made a skilful wide man a pressing priority as they look to get their title bid back on the rails after a miserable run of just one win in seven Premiership games.
And unsettled Hammer Sinclair is believed to be top of Gerard Houllier's wanted list.
The England international went on the Upton Park transfer list at his own request in September and was linked with a move to both Sunderland and the Reds before Houllier fell ill a month later.
Liverpool are now ready to revive their interest in the 28-year-old as Houllier, a known admirer of the former Blackpool and QPR midfielder, edges closer to an Anfield return.
However, they are not prepared to meet West Ham's £10million asking price and will only pursue the deal if the Londoners drop the fee to around £7m.
In-form Sinclair last week accused the Hammers of pricing him out of a dream move to a bigger club and it is believed the winger would relish the chance to join Liverpool's Premiership and European quest.
Sinclair, who would be eligible for Europe, said: "The last time I spoke to West Ham was when I put my transfer request in.
"They've got a valuation and if anyone meets that, they'll give me an opportunity to speak to them.
"I believe that valuation is £10m. Do I think it's a fair one? No, I think it's too much.
"I think it is going to make it impossible for me to move, but what can I do? I'd like to see them lower the asking price because I think it would make it a lot easier for me to move to a bigger club or a club that's closer to Europe.
"But I'm professional about the way I've carried myself and I'm just getting on with the job and playing to the best of my ability."
Sinclair already has a connection with a host of Anfield stars, as he is represented by the same SFX agency that includes Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard, Emile Heskey, Jamie Carragher and Nick Barmby among its clients.
January 11
Agent confirms Liverpool interest
Kop Talk/Footy MAD
Football agent Manuel Ferrer has revealed that Liverpool have approached him regarding one of his clients.
Ferrer represents Spanish midfielder Ivan De La Pena who is looking for a transfer away from Italian side Lazio.
Liverpool, Derby County, Newcastle, Tottenham and Benfica have all registered an interest in the highly-rated midfielder.
"Benfica is an option, but as I said Ivan wants to play in England, above everything else," said Ferrer.
"He told me he wants to be in an important league and to him that is the Premier League.
"There has been interest from Newcastle, Tottenham and Liverpool but we are still talking with Lazio.
"I am speaking with Lazio about finishing Ivan's contract now, and that may well happen. Lazio would accept his contract being paid off and that may be an option.
"We are just hoping that this will be resolved very soon."
January 10
Liverpool linked with Moroccan winger
Kop Talk/Footy MAD
Liverpool have been linked with a possible swoop for Moroccan winger Dries Boussatta.
The Dutch media claim that Boussatta (29) is available on a free transfer and that his agent is currently offering him to several Premiership clubs with Newcastle and Tottenham also mentioned in the same report.
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