JANUARY 25
Report:
Liverpool ace has
release clause in contract
Kop Talk
It is reported today that Liverpool ace Didi Hamann has a special
release clause in his contract that enables him to walk from his Anfield
contract providing any interested clubs offer £5million or more for him.
The inspirational midfielder has been linked with a possible return to
Germany in the summer and is said to have been unimpressed with recent
suggestions by Gerard Houllier that he has to prove himself before earning
a new contract.
Both Hamann and Houllier have had a mixed relationship over the last
couple of years with various twists and turns.
Despite this, word recently had suggested everything was ok but the fact
that the Reds are in no rush to discuss a new deal is worrying, even
though both sides say they will hopefully sort something out.
JANUARY 21
Report: Houllier
holds talks with Nigerian ace
Kop Talk
Liverpool have been linked with a possible move for Partizan Belgrade
defender Taribo West.
The player has been linked with the Reds before but that was a number of
years ago now.
If we recall correctly it would have been around the early days of Gerard
Houllier's management.
He signed for Partizan Belgrade last year and we think he's available on a
free transfer in the summer when he will be 30-years-old.
The player has had a somewhat up and down career having had spells at
Auxerre, AC Milan, Inter, Derby County and Kaiserlautern.
It is claimed that the Nigerian international - who currently has a knee
injury which will rule him out of the African Nations Cup - met Gerard
Houllier at the weekend.
JANUARY 14
Boro to bid for Heskey
By Chris Bascombe - Liverpool Echo
Middlesbrough will test Liverpool's resolve to keep Emile Heskey with a
bid for the inform striker.
But unless Auxerre perform a dramatic u-turn and allow Djibril Cisse to
move to Anfield six months early, any move for Heskey is likely to be
rebuffed.
Boro boss Steve McClaren is eager to take Heskey to the Riverside, but
given Gerard Houllier's injury problems this season he won't leave himself
short of strikers as his side bids for Champions League football.
Milan Baros is still a few weeks away from a first team comeback, Michael
Owen has just returned from injury and Fl ore nt Si nama-Pongolle is only
a rookie at the highest level.
If Cisse could be brought to Merseyside this month, Liverpool's stance
could change, but the Reds were recently told there was no chance of the
French striker joining before July.
A bid in the region of £6m for Heskey would still be extremely tempting
for the Reds, especially since Heskey has just 18 months left on his
current deal and the longer Liverpool wait the less likely they are to
recoup much of the £ 10m they paid Leicester for his services in 1999.
JANUARY 13
Liverpool
receive transfer enquiry
Kop Talk
Reports this morning claim that Bolton manager Sam Allardyce has
enquired about the availability of Liverpool defender Djimi Traore.
Allardyce is looking to strengthen in defence but hasn't got the financial
clout to make a firm offer for the player but has enquired about taking
the Frenchman on loan until the end of the season if reports are accurate.
It is unlikely that the Reds would be prepared to let the defender leave
Anfield at this moment in time.
JANUARY 12
Cheyrou attracting
interest
Sky Sports
Celta Vigo are rumoured to be tracking Liverpool's Bruno Cheyrou,
although there appears to be little opportunity for any transfer to be
processed.
The midfielder scored a crucial winner for Gerard Houllier's side at
Chelsea last week, but was relegated to the substitutes' bench for the 1-0
success against Aston Villa on Saturday.
However, Houllier is extremely unlikely to even consider allowing the
Frenchman to leave as he has been fully supportive of the former Lille man
since his arrival on Merseyside.
Cheyrou has struggled to make an impact at Anfield, but still appears to
have Houllier's faith, and it would be a surprise if Celta were successful
if they followed up their initial interest.
The 25-year-old was believed to be a loan target for the Liga side, who
are struggling towards the foot of the table.
JANUARY 11
Chelsea 'plan
£25m bid for Owen'
Ananova
Chelsea have contacted Michael Owen's representatives as they prepare a
£25million summer bid for the Liverpool striker, the News of the World
reports.
Owen is set to hold talks with Liverpool over the next few weeks, but a
Stamford Bridge 'source' told the paper: ''Owen's people have been told we
are interested.
''We will compete with any club to try to bring Owen to Chelsea.''
JANUARY 10
Houllier
linked with Croatian ace
Kop Talk
Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier is preparing a swoop for Shakhtar
Donetsk (Ukraine) 'keeper Stipe Pletikosa, claim reports.
The player - who was 25 earlier this week - is said to be keen on a move
to England and if reports are true, he is seen as a permanent replacement
for Jerzy Dudek and not just a stop-gap signing due to injuries.
Pletiskosa made his international debut for Croatia against Denmark in
1999 and was the first choice of Baric's predecessor Mirko Jovic in the
2002 World Cup at just 23.
His performances for Hadjuk Split had already attracted attention from a
number of Europe's top clubs and he was on the verge of signing for
Marseille in 2001.
Disappointingly that deal fell through and, after a short spell with
Standard Liege, he returned to Croatia.
However, impressive performances in the Far East saw his reputation grow
further and, after rumours suggesting a possible move to the Premiership,
he joined Shakhtar Donetsk last summer.
Still some years from his peak, another good showing this summer could
prompt a high-profile transfer.
JANUARY 5
Middlesbrough make Heskey enquiry
Kop Talk
Middlesbrough are reported to have made a formal enquiry with Liverpool
regarding the availability of Emile Heskey.
Steve McClaren is the latest manager to consider making a move for the
player with Blackburn Rovers and Celtic also said to be interested.
The player is available at the right place but with injuries to Milan
Baros and Michael Owen, the Reds will be reluctant to sell until the
summer, unless of course Auxerre could be persuaded to part with Djibril
Cisse now rather than in the summer.
JANUARY 3
£14million striker signs for Liverpool
Kop Talk
Various sources in France including L'Equipe are reporting that Auxerre
striker Djibril Cisse has signed a 5-year contract with Liverpool.
It is reported that the player had a medical with the Reds earlier last
month which ties in with our Insider report on 28th November.
Although everything looks in place for a transfer to go through, the
reports in France suggest the deal will not be rubber stamped until the
summer.
If these reports are accurate, the player will cost Liverpool
approximately £14million.
JANUARY 2
New Boot
Room planned for Anfield?
By Kevin Smith - LFC Online
If today's Mirror is to be believed Liverpool will not only be getting
Martin O'Neill in the summer, but also his backroom staff.
The paper claims that the Celtic boss is in line to take over from Gerard
Houllier at the end of the season and will bring John Robertson and Steve
Walford with him.
Such a move would not only see Gerard Houllier on his way, but also Phil
Thompson and Sammy Lee who would no longer be required under the new
regime.
It is still only speculation at the moment, with the Mirror insisting that
O'Neill has had no contact from the Liverpool board, but it is not a new
rumour and will not go away unless Houllier can turn things around in the
New Year.
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