APRIL 25
Reds agree Degen deal?
By James Carroll - Shanklygates
Liverpool have reached a pre-contract agreement with Swiss
international right-back Philipp Degen, according
to reports.
The Borussia Dortmund defender has allegedly agreed terms on a contract at
Anfield and will sign for the club on a free-transfer under the Bosman
ruling on July 1.
Manager Rafael Benitez last week confirmed that the club had already come to
an agreement for a 'first team' target and the transfer, if reports are
correct, will raise doubts over the future of Steve Finnan.
Liverpool have been linked with several players in recent weeks including
Aston Villa's Gareth Barry and Blackburn Rovers' midfielder David Bentley.
APRIL 22
Liverpool set to bid £500,000
for Newcastle keeper Harper
Daily Mail
Liverpool will launch a summer bid for Newcastle keeper
Steve Harper.
The Toon star, 32, has a year left on his contract and could cost as little
as £500,000.
Kop boss Rafa Benitez has lost faith in stand-in stopper Charles Itandje and
wants Harper to battle Pepe Reina for the No 1 spot, according to reports in
The Sun.
In 15 years at St James Park, Harper has made little more than 100
appearances but has played much of this season after Shay Given suffered a
serious injury.
APRIL 14
Trio linked
with move to Anfield
Liverpool Daily Post
Valon Behrami is being linked with a move to the Premier
League.
The Swiss international midfielder has enjoyed an impressive season in Serie
A but Lazio would be unable to turn down a big money deal.
Liverpool are one of the clubs he is being linked with, according to web
reports.
* * *
Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Luka Modric has made a ‘come and get me’ plea to
Liverpool.
Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal have been credited with serious interest in
the Croatia international this week, but it is Liverpool he pines for.
Modric told Vecernji list: “I don’t wish to discuss possible transfers, but
if Liverpool really want me, then this is fantastic and I am truly honoured.
“I watched the Champions League quarter-finals and the way they crushed
Arsenal. Only the greatest and the best can play such a match against strong
Arsenal.”
* * *
And finally, Lee Cattermole of Middlesborough is again being linked with
a move to Anfield in the summer.
The fee currently being talked about is £3million.
APRIL 6
Rafinha
in, battle for Bentley,
Kewell and Parry to exit?
Liverpool Daily Post
Schalke defender Rafinha is "almost certain" to move to
Anfield in the summer, it has been claimed.
Various newspapers say Rafa Benitez has agreed to pay £6million for the
player.
It is reported that Benitez has scouted the Brazilian for most of the season
and plans to land the right-sided defender to solve problems his squad has
in this area. (various)
Benitez has said he plans to sign three players over the summer.
* * *
Liverpool face a battle with Tottenham if they intend to act on their
much-rumoured interest in Blackburn's David Bentley.
Bentley, 23, is thought to want to leave Ewood Park in the summer in search
of a bigger club in order to boost his England prospects and it is believed
White Hart Lane is now his most likely destination.
Web reports, and the Sunday Express say that although manager Mark Hughes
has said recently that he expects Bentley to stay at Rovers it is thought
that the lure of a return to London could prove too much for the young
midfielder.
With David Beckham recently returned to the England squad, it is also
thought that Bentley now believes he must leave Ewood Park if he wants to
gain a regular place in the England side under Fabio Capello and Tottenham
fits the bill perfectly.
Liverpool have also apparently shown an interest in Bentley as a possible
replacement for Jermaine Pennant, who has had little impact at Anfield this
season, with a fee thought to be in the region of £10 million.
However, it may be that Bentley would prefer to return to the capital and
Juande Ramos has been promised funds to boost his squad in an attempt to
break into the ‘Top Four’ and bring Champions League football to White Hart
Lane.
* * *
Harry Kewell's future lies in ... Sunderland.
According to Sunday newspapers, out-of-favour Kewell is highly thought of by
Roy Keane.
Keane has cash to splash if Sunderland, as is expected, remain in the
Premier League.
And according to reports, a contract is already being drawn up.
* * *
Perhaps unsurpisingly, it has been reported that Tom Hicks is less than
impressed with Liverpool FC chief executive Rick Parry.
According to Sunday newspaper reports, Hicks now wants his own man in to run
Liverpool FC - once he has managed to buy out George Gillett.
Last weekend, Parry used a BBC interview to say that something needed to be
done to sort out the stand-off between Gillett and Hicks.
Hicks, claim reports, now wants his own team to run Liverpool on a
day-to-day basis.
Other reports claims Hicks has now put an SOS out to the City to help find a
financial backer who can help him cling on to Liverpool.
* * *
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