Rumours

January - 2005

HEADLINES
2301: Birmingham planning second Anfield raid
2301: Liverpool offer Real Madrid winger...
1401: Reds sweet on Mintal
1301: Feyenoord target duo
1301: Benitez still keen on striker...
0901: Owen tipped for Real Madrid exit
0901: Mersey duo lead Pennant chase
0901: Liverpool in shock Johnson swoop
0701: Liverpool defender linked with Marseille
0601: Reds linked with Cudicini
0501: Spanish eyes on Igor
0401: Lyn claim Reds offer
0401: Duo eye Le Tallec
0201: Rumour Mill: Reds to offload Kirkland
 
RUMOURS ARCHIVE              
2004
October November  December
July August September
April  May June 
January February March

JANUARY 23
Birmingham planning second Anfield raid

Kop Talk

Newspaper reports today claim that Birmingham City are planning to make a bid to sign Liverpool midfielder Vladimir Smicer.

City boss Steve Bruce has just completed the signing of Salif Diao on loan and has now been tipped to return for his team-mate who is close to a return from injury.

Smicer is out of contract in the summer so there's every chance that City could hold back until then to see how he fairs once he returns to action.


JANUARY 23
Liverpool offer Real Madrid winger Anfield contract

Kop Talk

Newspaper reports today claim that Liverpool have offered Real Madrid's left-sided midfielder Santiago Solari a pre-contract despite strong interest from Manchester United and Inter Milan.

The 28-year-old Argentinian is out of contract in the summer and is free to discuss a possible move now and it is suggested that manager Rafael Benitez sees Solari as the ideal candidate to replace Kop flop Harry Kewell.

Solari has made it clear that he would like to leave Spain to test himself in the Premiership but will he opt for Old Trafford or Anfield, if he sticks to his word?


JANUARY 14
Reds sweet on Mintal

By Thomas Zeh - Planet Football/Sky Sports

Nurnberg's Marek Mintal could be set for a lucrative move to the Premiership - according to reports in the German media.

The Slovakian international claims that one of The Premiership's big guns has made contact with his agent - and speculation in Germany has pointed to Liverpool as the interested party.

While Mintal insists that a move during the January transfer window is not on the agenda, he hinted he would consider a switch to England at the end of the season.

"One of England's top clubs has contacted my advisor," Mintal told German sports-paper Sportbild.

"I definitely won't leave in the winter, but let's wait and see what happens in the summer."

The 27-year-old is currently the Bundesliga's leading goal-getter after scoring 13 goals in 17 games for Nurnberg and it is believed that the unfashionable club will fail to keep the talented player at the Frankenstadion, despite a contract until 2008.

Mintal joined the Black-and-Red's in 2003 from Slovakian outfit MSK Zilina and played a vital role in helping Nurnberg to win promotion back to the German top-flight.

The club have denied that they have received an official bid yet, but their director of sport Martin Bader admitted that scouts from Liverpool have been present on several occasions.

"We haven't been contacted yet, but it's true that scouts from Liverpool were here several times," declared Bader.

If Liverpool do decide firm up their interest in Mintal, they will almost certainly have to beat tough competition from a handful of Bundesliga teams for the player, and it is believed that Nurnberg would expect a transfer fee of at least €4 million for their most valuable asset.


JANUARY 13
Feyenoord target duo

By Peter ORourke - Planet Football/Sky Sports

Feyenoord are believed to be planning a double swoop on England.

Reports emanating from Holland suggest Feyenoord are weighing up moves for Liverpool's Stephane Henchoz and on-loan West Brom defender Cosmin Contra.

Feyenoord boss Ruud Gullit is determined to bolster his squad in the transfer window and has made defensive reinforcements his top priority.

Henchoz seems set to leave Liverpool after dropping out Rafa Benitez's plans at Anfield.

Celtic, Rangers, Bolton and Southampton are all thought to be keen on the Swiss international, but now Feyenoord are believed to have entered the chase for his signature.


JANUARY 13
Benitez still keen on striker
despite Morientes signing


Kop Talk

Newspaper reports today claim that Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is still in the market for another striker despite the imminent signing of Fernando Morientes from Real Madrid.

If today's reports are accurate, Liverpool want to press ahead with the signing of Crystal Palace striker Andy Johnson. Rafa rates Johnson very highly and believes he is just the man to add additional firepower to his squad with Florent-Sinama Pongolle and Neil Mellor facing the axe.

Palace want £8million for Johnson and that could prove a problem. Liverpool will do their best to negotiate that fee down especially after paying out more than £2million more than they had budgeted for Morientes.

Nicolas Anelka is another player under consideration although chief executive Rick Parry would prefer it if he wasn't brought back to Anfield.


JANUARY 9
Owen tipped for Real Madrid exit

Kop Talk

Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen is to be axed by new Real Madrid boss Wanderley Luxemburgo and Sporting Director Arrigo Sacchi.

Owen, along with David Beckham and Jonathan Woodgate, will all be shown the door according to numerous media sources today as the new regime at Real plan a major overhaul of the squad.

Barcelona have been tipped to make a move for Owen although there are suggestions he could be loaned out to a Serie A outfit on a season-long loan once Real secure another high-profile striker.


JANUARY 9
Mersey duo lead Pennant chase

Sporting Life

Liverpool and Everton are leading the chase to sign Jermaine Pennant from Arsenal.

The highly-rated 22-year-old winger is out of contract at Highbury in the summer, and the Mersey giants are rumoured are to be heading the queue for his signature.

According to The News Of The World both Rafael Benitez and David Moyes are both keen to capture Pennant.

The tabloid claims Dutch side Ajax and two more Premiership clubs - Manchester City and Southampton - are also monitoring developments.

Pennant joined Arsenal for £1.5million from Notts County in 1999 and spent last season on loan at Leeds United.

But fierce competition for places at Highbury means he hasn't been able to hold down a regular first-team berth with the Gunners.


JANUARY 9
Liverpool in shock Johnson swoop

Sporting Life

Liverpool have made a shock move for Crystal Palace striker Andy Johnson.

The Reds, hit by the loss of Djibril Cisse to a horrific injury, are already trying to sign another striker in Real Madrid's Fernando Morientes.

But according to the Sunday Express they're also real to swoop for highly-rated Johnson.

The Sunday paper claims Reds boss Rafael Benitez has already offered out-of-favour defender Stephane Henchoz and midfielder Salif Diao plus cash in a bid to strike a deal.

Johnson has made a huge impact in his first season in the top flight with Palace.

He joined the club from Birmingham as a £750,000 makeweight in Clinton Morrion's £4.25million move to St Andrews.


JANUARY 7
Liverpool defender linked with Marseille

Kop Talk

Liverpool defender Gregory Vignal is attracting the interest of Marseille, claim dubious sources this afternoon.

It is claimed that the French outfit are keen on signing the left-back who is currently on loan north of the border at Glasgow Rangers.

Vignal failed to make an impact at Anfield under Gerard Houllier and Rafael Benitez was advised to off-load him when he took over in the summer.


JANUARY 6
Reds linked with Cudicini

By Al Campbell - LFC Online

Liverpool have been linked with Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini.

Cudicini has been out of favour at Chelsea since the signing of Petr Cech and is hoping for a move. The Italian wants to stay in the Premiership if possible and Liverpool could be a possible destination according to his agent.

Fererico Pastorello said yesterday: "In England there could be some clubs interested. Liverpool could be interested in Carlo but other clubs also."


JANUARY 5
Spanish eyes on Igor

By Mark Kendall - Planet Football/Sky Sports

Liverpool's Igor Biscan has emerged as a target for Primera outfits Atletico Madrid and Valencia.

The Croat has struggled to truly establish himself at Anfield since his big-money move from Dinamo Zagreb in December 2000.

While he enjoyed first-team opportunities under Gerard Houllier, he has failed to convince Rafa Benitez of his worth despite a couple of eye-catching performances this term.

The 26-year-old has been used mainly in the Carling Cup, although it was his display away in the UEFA Champions League against Deportivo La Coruna that brought him to the attention of Valencia and Atletico.

Biscan is also thought to be on the agenda of both Celtic and Southampton, with Saints boss Harry Redknapp already thought to have submitted a £500,000 offer for his services.


JANUARY 4
Lyn claim Reds offer

By Kent Hedlundh - Planet Football/sky Sports

Liverpool are rumoured to be ready to pip Bolton to the capture of Oman keeper Ali Al-Habsi.

The 22-year-old has been tipped for greatness since his teenage years, with former Newcastle keeper John Burridge championing his cause way back in 2001.

Burridge was national goalkeeping coach in Oman and aided the youngster's development earlier in his career.

Al-Habsi has been with Norwegian side Lyn for the past two years and his performances have earned rave reviews.

He had trials with Manchester City and Bolton earlier this year and The Trotters have firmed their interest up with a bid in recent weeks.

Bolton's offer has been described as derisory by the Norwegian club, which could well allow Liverpool to sneak into pole position.

"There is no point even discussing it," Lyn director Morgan Andersen told VG of Bolton's offer. "The offer is terribly low, it is almost insulting our intelligence."

Lyn, though, are claiming that they have been approached by an agent representing Liverpool.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez is rumoured to be looking at strengthening his goalkeeping options, with the Spaniard said to be unconvinced by Chris Kirkland and Jerzy Dudek, and Al-Habsi could well have caught his eye.

"If the offer we have got is correct, it's certainly something we can consider," added Andersen.

Al-Habsi has struggled to earn a work permit in the past, but his agent said last month that Oman's improvement in recent years should allow him to secure the documentation required to play in The Premiership and a move could emerge in January.


JANUARY 4
Duo eye Le Tallec

By Patrick Haond - Planet Football/Sky Sports

Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion are considering boosting their survival bids by signing Liverpool youngster Anthony Le Tallec.

The French starlet is currently back in his homeland on a season-long loan with St Etienne but has not enjoyed his time in Ligue 1.

He has made just six appearances for Les Verts and has also struggled with injuries, prompting doubts about whether he will stay at the club.

St Etienne coach Elie Baup is understood to be happy to allow Le Tallec to return to England, if there is Premiership interest in his services.

Le Tallec admitted in November that he was prepared to go back to Anfield to ease Liverpool's crisis in attack.

But with Fernando Morientes expected to arrive on Merseyside, Le Tallec is unlikely to be required by manager Rafa Benitez.

Reports across The Channel suggest that both Norwich and West Brom are willing to take Le Tallec on loan for the rest of the season.

Canaries boss Nigel Worthington is keen to bring in a new forward, after admitting Crewe hot shot Dean Ashton is out of his price range.

West Brom boss Bryan Robson is also anxious to strengthen his options and may move for Le Tallec before the transfer window closes.


JANUARY 2
Rumour Mill: Reds to offload Kirkland

By Adam Bryant - LFC Online

Liverpool are ready to listen to offers for Chris Kirkland according to the Sunday papers.

With Jerzy Dudek back in the first team and a bid pending for Leeds United's Scott Carson, Liverpool are prepared to consider offers in the region of £4m.

Such a move would also allow Rafael Benitez to increase his £4m offer for Fernando Morientes.


Thor Zakariassen ©