MAY 31
West
Brom set to make Liverpool loan swoop
Fans FC
Bryan Robson will explore the possibility of signing goalkeeper Chris
Kirkland on a season-long loan
Kirkland has been hit by a number of injuries since joining Liverpool from
Coventry City in 2001 and with Anfield boss Rafael Benitez set to sign a new
number one this summer, may allow Kirkland out on loan to get some first
team games under his belt.
Baggies boss Robson expressed some concern about the form of Russell Hoult
during the season just ended and although number two Tomasz Kuszczak
performed well when needed, Kirkland would provide extra competition for the
'keeper's jersey.
MAY 31
Charlton and Birmingham battle for Smicer
By Chris Bascombe - Liverpool Echo
Charlton and Birmingham are leading the chase for European Cup hero
Vladimir Smicer following his triumphant Anfield exit.
The Czech international is currently back in Prague after bringing the
curtain down on his Reds career in extraordinary style.
But the 32-year-old wants to remain in Premiership football and will be
discussing a move with Steve Bruce and Alan Curbishley over the next few
weeks.
Smicer could be reunited with former team-mate Danny Murphy at The Valley
and a move to the capital appears to be his preferred option at this stage.
However, Birmingham are also keen to pair the creative midfielder with
another former teammate, Emile Heskey. Smicer's close friend Patrik Berger
will also be playing in the Midlands next season, at rivals Aston Villa.
MAY 31
Houllier considers
Baros
By Patrick Haond - Sky Sports
One of Gerard Houllier's first actions as manager of Lyon could be to
make a swoop on his former club Liverpool.
The man understood to be top of Houllier's list of targets is unsettled
striker Milan Baros.
The 23-year-old has admitted that his Anfield future is far from certain and
he has indicated an interest in moving to Spain, with Valencia showing
particular interest.
However, news of possible interest from Lyon, and his former boss Houllier,
is almost certain to appeal to Baros.
MAY 29
Johnson exit talk hots
up
TEAMtalk
Andy Johnson is set to leave Crystal Palace this summer with Liverpool,
Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester City all chasing his signature.
The striker is reportedly keen to leave Selhurst Park to enhance his chances
of forcing his way into Sven-Goran Eriksson's 2006 World Cup squad.
Johnson was the Premiership's second-highest scorer this season with 21
league goals and made his first international start for England against the
USA in Chicago on Saturday evening.
And newspaper reports suggest that following Palace's relegation to the
Championship, Johnson sees a move to a Premiership club as the only way to
keep himself in Eriksson's plans.
A close friend told the News of the World: "Andy is on the brink of making
Sven-Goran Eriksson's World Cup squad and knows he must stay in the
Premiership to make it to Germany.
"He scored more goals than any English player in the league last season and
sweated blood to try to keep Palace up.
"He was heartbroken when they were relegated but now he is desperate to hang
on to his England dream."
Liverpool, Spurs and Newcastle are all thought to be considering bids in the
region of £6m for the player, while new Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce
is reportedly willing to offer Jon Macken as part of a deal.
MAY 28
Wright-Phillips linked with Reds
By Al Campbell - LFC Online
Sean Wright-Phillips is the latest player to linked with a move to
European Cup holders Liverpool.
Liverpool had been linked with the nippy winger before but it was assumed
that Wright-Phillips would plump for his father's old club Arsenal. However,
as the Champions of Europe, Liverpool's pulling power has increased
drastically and a move to the Reds could be on the cards.
Manchester City will want around £15m for Wright-Phillips but Rafael Benitez
will be given serious funds this summer as the Reds chase the title so a
deal is possible.
Wright-Phillips would become Rafael Benitez' second English signing.
MAY 21
Liverpool
close in on Hargreaves
By Dominic Fifield - The Guardian
Rafael Benítez will continue to reshape his Liverpool squad by moving to
sign the England international Owen Hargreaves from Bayern Munich this
summer, reviving the midfielder's hopes of featuring in next year's World
Cup finals in the process.
The two clubs are close to agreeing a £2.5m deal for the 24-year-old, who
won his 25th cap in the 4-0 trouncing of Northern Ireland at Old Trafford at
the end of March.
Hargreaves is on £45,000 a week, which Liverpool would be prepared to match,
and has a year left on his contract.
MAY 21
Benitez warned off
o'Neil
talklfc.com
Champions League finalists Liverpool have been told by Portsmouth that a
move for England under-21 skipper Gary o'Neil will be blocked by Milan
Mandaric.
The Pompey chief sees o'Neil as one of the key players for the club to build
its future team around. His quick dismissal of the player's availability
should make that very clear to Rafael Benitez, if he was interested in
signing the player at all.
The player himself is bound to be flattered by the interest he is attracting
from one of Europe's biggest clubs. Pompey fans are convinced that he is
more than happy to stay with the southcoast club.
O'Neil's contract runs until June 2009 after he extended his contract in
January. So even if Benitez is interested in signing the player he is bound
to cost more than the Spaniard will be willing to spend.
MAY 21
Belgian chance for
Le Tallec
By Gerrit van Leeuwen - Sky Sports
Liverpool are reportedly ready to offer Anderlecht the chance to sign
Anthony Le Tallec on loan.
The French starlet has struggled to make an impact at Anfield under Rafa
Benitez and may be shipped out again next term.
Le Tallec was farmed out to St Etienne at the start of this campaign but cut
short his spell back in Ligue 1 in January.
Since returning to Merseyside, the young attacker has made seven appearances
under Benitez but does not currently seem likely to become a regular.
To that end, Benitez is keen for the 20-year-old to accrue further
experience and reports suggest he could be on his way to Anderlecht.
The Belgian outfit have purportedly been offered the opportunity to take Le
Tallec on loan next season and, should the deal materialise, the youngster
will be hoping for greater involvement than during his disappointing stint
at St Etienne.
MAY 20
Liverpool join chase for £5million Saints star
Fans FC
England new boy Peter Crouch is a target for the Reds after Southampton's
relegation from the Premiership.
Crouch's displays this season have earned him a host of new admirers as well
as a call-up to the England squad and although Southampton are keen to keep
him, Liverpool's interest will tempt the player.
Anfield boss Rafael Benitez is looking to add a more physical presence to
his front-line and Crouch fits the bill of a player who still has plenty of
time to improve under the Spanish coach.
Bolton are also keen on a move for Crouch but may be put off by
Southampton's asking price.
MAY 18
Dudek leaving in swap
deal?
By Al Campbell - LFC Online
Jerzy Dudek may be set to return to his old club Feyenoord in a player
plus cash deal.
Liverpool have been linked with Feyenoord striker Dirk Kuyt and with Jose
Reina apparently on his way to Anfield the Reds are set to offload Jerzy
Dudek and could offer him back to his old club as a makeweight in the Kuyt
deal.
MAY 18
Benitez ready to open talks over £6m Milito
By Andy Hunter - Daily Post
Real Zaragoza's Argentine centre-half Gabriel Milito has emerged as a
£6million transfer target for Rafael Benitez this summer.
The Liverpool manager will strengthen in several areas during the close
season, with added competition alongside Jamie Carragher in the heart of
defence a priority.
And he is prepared to make another transfer raid on Spain by entering the
race for the highlyrated Milito - with Feyenoord striker Dirk Kuyt another
considered target.
Manchester United and Barcelona have both been linked with 24-year-old
Milito this season, but Liverpool are ready to steal a march on the pair by
opening talks with Zaragoza.
The Spanish outfit are loathe to lose their outstanding defender of the past
two seasons and Milito insisted he was happy at La Romareda when the United
and Barca interest first emerged.
But Liverpool are ready to test that resolve by meeting Zaragoza's £6m
valuation of the Argentinian international, who is under contract at Real
until 2007.
Milito rose to prominence with Independiente and would have joined Real
Madrid two years ago only for the deal to collapse at the 11th hour when he
failed a medical with a knee problem.
His career was resurrected at Zaragoza, where he won the Copa del Rey in his
first season with the club and helped their dramatic league improvement this
term.
Zaragoza insist they will resist any approach for Milito - "I don't believe
the club will sell Gabriel," said sporting director Miguel Pardaza - but
whether they can reject a £6m offer from Liverpool will become clear over
the summer.
MAY 16
Inter
Milan linked with Liverpool's Riise
Kop Talk
Italian reports claim that Serie A outfit Inter Milan are keen on signing
Liverpool's John Arne Riise.
It is suggested that the Italians will offer the out-of-favour Alvaro Recoba
in some kind of deal to try and tempt Rafa into selling.
This one started last week and remains weak but it is the silly season now
so it'll give you something to think about.
MAY 13
Villa
linked with shock swoop
for Liverpool's Czech star
Fans FC
Milan Baros is a surprise summer target for Aston Villa boss
David O'Leary
The Czech international has spoken of his frustration at not being a regular
for Liverpool under Rafael Benitez and has been linked with moves abroad to
clubs in Spain and Italy.
Now Villa have reportedly enterered the chase for the 23-year-old, one of
the stars of Euro 2004.
O'Leary has been given a large transfer kitty to spend in the summer and a
goalscorer is top of his shopping list.
MAY 11
Lyon plan Reds raid
By Patrick Haond - Planet Football/Sky Sports
Lyon could be ready to plan a raid on Liverpool as they search for a new
striker.
The French champions have revealed they are willing to let Sidney Govou
leave in the summer and are already targeting possible replacements.
Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas has admitted he is keen to bolster his squad
and that a new striker and midfielder are his top priorities.
Aulas has revealed he had contact with Liverpool duo Milan Baros and Harry
Kewell over a possible move to Stade Gerland.
Baros could be a option for Lyon as he is thought to be considering his
future at Anfield.
The Czech Republic star is unhappy at how he is being used by Reds boss Rafa
Benitez and admitted several clubs have made offers for his services.
Kewell's future at Anfield is also uncertain as he has failed to live up to
expectations since his move from Leeds two seasons ago and his injury
problems have frustrated Benitez.
MAY 10
Anfield alerted as Van der Vaart
hands in transfer request
Kop Talk
Former Liverpool target Rafael van der Vaart has handed in a transfer
request at Ajax.
The Dutch international was targeted for some time by former Liverpool boss
Gerard Houllier with a proposed transfer falling through shortly before he
was given the bullet. Earlier this season Van der Vaart admitted that he had
spoken to Liverpool executives about a possible move with nobody at Anfield
coming out and rubbishing his claims.
It is understood that the 22-year-old is a target of German side Hamburg but
Manchester United and Arsenal have previously sniffed around him. Barcelona
were always believed to be his preferred destination so it will be
interesting to see how they respond to the developments.
Explaining what had gone down, Ajax Director Arie van Eijde said: "We know
that he doesn't want to sign a new contract and through his agent he has
informed us that he wants to leave Ajax. I know through Lerby (his agent)
that Van der Vaart went to Hamburg last weekend.
"He informed this on Monday morning. There is no official interest yet, as
far as I can tell. Up until now no club has called us with the news they
want to sign Van der Vaart, so we sit back and wait for things to happen."
Van der Vaart has just a year left on his existing deal and with Rafa having
tried to sign him while at Valencia, you can expect him to register an
interest, if he hasn't done already.
MAY 10
Liverpool slap £8million price tag on Kop star
Kop Talk
Liverpool are reportedly informing clubs interested in buying Milan Baros
this summer that they want to see at least £8million in cash put on the
table for the Czech striker.
Baros has failed to reproduce the form he showed at Euro 2004 and while
Rafael Benitez is in no rush to get shot of him, the player is available for
transfer providing realistic offers come in.
Crystal Palace striker Andy Johnson remains a target and Michael Owen is a
serious option but Rafa is also checking on the availability of several
strikers across Europe.
If Baros is sold, the cash will certainly go towards a direct replacement.
MAY 3
Liverpool agree £8million transfer fee
Kop Talk
Reports in Spain claim that Liverpool have agreed an £8million fee with
Villarreal for their goalkeeper Jose Reina.
Reina's agent Garcia Quilom, who also represents Rafael Benitez and Luis
Garcia, has privately indicated that a deal has been struck although he
hasn't officially gone on record as saying this. It is rumoured that Reina
will sign a 3-year contract with an option of a further 12 months.
Liverpool could play down the claims, especially if no official agreement is
in place yet.
Jerzy Dudek could return to former club Feyenoord who have reportedly
registered an interest in him.
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