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."
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