Rumours

April - 2010

 
HEADLINES
2504: Reds line-up Shelvey deal
2404: Liverpool tempted by move
          for Rafael van der Vaart

2204: Italian press: Juve begin recruiting
          of Benitez's backroom staff

1904: Benitez targets Bolton defender Cahill
1404: Report: Inter still favourites to land Gerrard
1404: Reports: Benitez given ten-day deadline
1104: Benayoun linked with CSKA 










RUMOURS ARCHIVE


APRIL 25
Reds line-up Shelvey deal

Sky Sports

Liverpool are set to win the race to sign Charlton starlet Jonjo Shelvey, skysports.com understands.

The 18-year-old midfielder has long been touted as one of the finest young prospects in England.

He has previously turned down Chelsea's overtures, whilst Tottenham, Arsenal and West Ham are also known to have been keen on securing his services.

However, skysports.com now understands that Liverpool have indeed won the battle for his services.

Despite the ongoing uncertainty at Anfield over boss Rafa Benitez and the club's owners, they have managed to seal a deal for Shelvey.

It is understood that the teenager will travel to Merseyside early next week to undergo a medical before completing a summer switch.

Shelvey will finish the season with Charlton, who he still hopes to guide back into the Championship.

The 18-year-old has long been touted as one of the finest young prospects in England.

He has previously turned down Chelsea's overtures, whilst Tottenham, Arsenal and West Ham are also known to have been keen on securing his services.


APRIL 24
Liverpool tempted by move
for Rafael van der Vaart


By Andy Hunter - guardian.co.uk

Liverpool are considering a summer move for Rafael van der Vaart, having been offered the chance to sign the Holland international by Real Madrid.

Club officials met in the Spanish capital before Liverpool's Europa League semi-final against Atlético Madrid on Thursday, with Real taking the opportunity to try to offload several players deemed surplus to requirements by the club president, Florentino Perez.

Liverpool were interested in Van der Vaart, who was offered despite forcing his way into Manuel Pellegrini's plans this season, in a deal that would see Real recoup much of the €13m they paid Hamburg in 2008.

Whether Rafael Benítez envisages a role for the 27-year-old midfielder in his plans is not clear and doubts over the manager's long-term future at Anfield, plus the transfer funds available, mean there are several issues for the club to address before pursuing a deal for the former Ajax favourite. Liverpool's interest, however, has been registered.


APRIL 22
Italian press: Juve begin recruiting
of Benitez's backroom staff


By Ben Moss - Sport.co.uk

According to reports in Italy, Serie A giants Juventus are closing in on a deal for Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez and have begun the process of recruiting a number of his Anfield backroom staff at his request.

The Liverpool manager has been earmarked by Juventus as the ideal candidate to succeed current incumbent Alberto Zaccheroni, and the club’s chief-executive John Elkann is in the process of ensuring the Spaniard makes a smooth transition from the Premier League to Serie A by approaching selected members of his backroom staff.

Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport suggest Benitez’s agent, Manuel Garcia Quillon, held talks with Juventus officials on Monday night in order to determine a timetable for the coach’s departure from Liverpool.

According to the newspaper, in the discussions Benitez agreed in principle to sign a €4.5 million a year contract and gave his future employers a list of coaches whom he wishes to take with him to Serie A.

The list reportedly contains six names, said to include his Liverpool assistant Manuel Pellegrino, chief scout Eduardo Macia and Anfield fitness conditioner Paco De Miguel.

Also on the list is West Ham United’s fitness coach Antonio Pintus and Benitez has allegedly urged Juventus to hire Amedeo Carboni as his director of sport, having enjoyed a successful union at Valencia.


APRIL 19
Benitez targets
Bolton defender Cahill


tribalfootball.com

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is willing to offer £15 million for Bolton Wanderers defender Gary Cahill.

The People says Benitez wants to beat off rivals Tottenham for the classy defender, who has been in and out of Fabio Capello's World Cup squad and is back playing after a horror blood-clot problem.

The Anfield outfit have told Bolton of their interest and will make it formal in the coming weeks if Benitez is allowed to make a splash in the transfer market by the club's owners and their new financial advisers.


APRIL 15
Report: Inter still
favourites to land Gerrard


Goal.com

According to reports coming out of England and Italy, Inter are in pole position to capture Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard should he be forced to leave Anfield.

TMW reports that the Reds have a debt close to £400 million, and some of the money could be recouped by selling the England international to the Nerazzurri.

Current Inter coach Jose Mournho once called the 29-year-old the 'forbidden fruit', after trying to lure the lifelong Red to Chelsea when he was in charge of the Blues.

Gerrard has a contract with Liverpool until June 2013. A figure over €25 million (£22m) is reportedly one that the Anfield management would take seriously, with anything under that being considered a "waste of time".

Also watching the Kop captain's situation with interest are Real Madrid and Chelsea.


APRIL 14
Reports: Benitez given ten-day deadline

Football 365

Juventus have reportedly given Rafa Benitez ten days to decide whether he wants to become the club's new manager.

According to The Times, Juve, in the process of drawing up a shortlist of candidates to take over as the club's manager at the end of the season, are 'hoping to take advantage of Benitez's frustration at the lack of financial backing afforded to him by Liverpool since committing his long-term future to the club'.

Benitez signed a five-year contract with Liverpool 12 months ago, but his position has since been jeopardised by the club's struggles both on and off the pitch.

'Benítez would prefer to remain at Liverpool, particularly having secured several of the club's top stars, including Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina and Steven Gerrard, on lengthy contracts. But Juventus are ready to test his desire to stay on Merseyside by offering the substantial transfer budget that he is seeking, but at this stage seems unlikely to get, from Liverpool,' the newspaper reports.

Benitez's agent, Manuel Garcia Quilon, is quoted as saying: "I repeat, Benitez has a four-year contract with Liverpool which, in principle, means he will remain there."

However he then added: "For the next months, I do not know what will happen."

While it seems unlikely that Benitez would leave Liverpool for Juventus - The Sun claims that such a decision would see him 'turn his back on a £16m pay-off' - an offer from Real Madrid may prove altogether more tempting.

Intriguingly, a survey by Spanish newspaper Marca in the wake of Madrid's home defeat to Barcelona on Saturday found Benitez to be the preferred choice of the Real supporters to replace Manuel Pellegrini. Benitez polled 40% of the 100,000-strong vote to finish above Jose Mourinho.


APRIL 11
Benayoun linked with CSKA

By Mike Barton - Sky Sports

CSKA Moscow are reportedly lining up a bid to sign Liverpool winger Yossi Benayoun.

The Israel captain, who signed for the Reds from West Ham in 2007, has been rumoured to be subject to a £9million bid from the Russian club, whose rivals Spartak recently failed to sign unsettled Liverpool midfielder Albert Riera.

Anfield boss Rafa Benitez admitted the club may have to sell players should they not get the required investment by this summer, meaning it could force him to move Benayoun on.

The 29-year-old, who has become more of a prominent figure on Merseyside in the past year, admitted he had been talking to his agent about his future despite having three years left on his current deal, but stressed that he was only thinking about his current position.

"It's flattering other clubs want me but what is important is where I am now," he said.

"I am enjoying myself and it's been good for me here.

"In a few more weeks, it will be the right time to talk about certain things."


Thor Zakariassen ©