MARCH 29
Reds plan Sharp swoop
Sporting Life
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is reportedly planning a £2million summer
swoop for highly-rated Scunthorpe striker Billy Sharp.
The Reds boss is keen to boost his striking options in the summer and has
been tracking the progress of the top scorer in League One.
Benitez will be handed a transfer warchest by new owners George Gillett and
Tom Hicks, but despite being linked with multi-million-pound raids for the
likes of Valencia's David Villa and Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o, he is keen on
a move for the 21-year-old Scunthorpe ace.
According to The Sun, Benitez is eager to sign a British forward and sent
scouts to watch Sharp bag a last-minute leveller in Saturday's 2-2 draw at
Leyton Orient.
The striker's contract expires at the end of next season and Iron boss Nigel
Adkins may be forced to cash in on his star player in the summer.
Benitez is likely to offload veteran forward Robbie Fowler at the end of the
current campaign and Sharp could provide competition to Dirk Kuyt Craig
Bellamy and Peter Crouch in Liverpool's forward line next term.
MARCH 27
Barca linked with
Sissoko raid
By Francisco Acedo - Sky Sports
Reports in the Catalan press claim that Barcelona have included
Liverpool's Mohamed Sissoko on a four-man shortlist as they look to
strengthen their midfield.
According to Catalan daily Sport, Los Cules are keen to recruit a
ball-winning midfielder in the Edgar Davids mould in time for next season.
Sporting director Txiki Begiristain has been charged with the task of
bolstering Barca's options, and Sissoko, along with Valencia's David
Albelda, Atletico Madrid's Peter Luccin and Yaya Toure of Monaco have all
reportedly fallen under his gaze.
The dethroned European Champions appear to have little chance of coaxing
Xabi Alonso from Anfield and could now try and bring Sissoko back to Spain
where he previously enjoyed a spell with Valencia.
The Mali international performed superbly across both legs as The Reds
knocked Barca out of the UEFA Champions League and his strong displays
appear not to have gone unnoticed.
However Begiristain was reluctant to comment on specific names when quizzed
on his recruitment plans.
"We are working for the next campaign but we will never talk about names in
advance," Begiristain told Sport.
"It is logical because the speculation transmits to the press."
MARCH 5
Reds linked with
Rovers ace
Clubcall Sports
Liverpool will reportedly make a summer move for Blackburn's highly-rated
winger, Morten Gamst Pedersen.
Selling star asset Pedersen is the last thing that will be on manager Mark
Hughes' mind come the summer but Liverpool have plenty of money to spend
with the backing of their new owners.
Anfield boss Rafa Benitez is looking to strengthen the left side of his team
and sees Pedersen as the man to step in.
Although Hughes would be very reluctant to sell there has been talk of a
return to Blackburn for Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy and that may lead to
some
common ground.
MARCH 2
Inter eyeing
Gerrard capture
Sporting Life
Juventus reportedly face competition from Inter Milan if they want to
sign Liverpool's Steven Gerrard.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Inter president Massimo Moratti is
planning a major bid for the Anfield captain when the transfer window
re-opens in the summer.
The Italian club's directors Lele Oriali and Marco Branca have traveled to
England in February to visit Liverpool games and to run the rule over
Gerrard.
Inter, who are flying high at the top of Serie A, are still in talks with
Real Madrid's Mahamadou Diarra but Moratti is hopeful to test Liverpool's
resolve over Gerrard.
The news will alarm Juventus, whose coach Didier Deschamps went public over
his interest for the England ace last week.
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