JUNE 30
Pennant is new Reds
target
By Chris Bascombe . Liverpool Echo
Liverpool are preparing to swoop for Jermaine Pennant, as the Daniel
Alves deal looks further away than ever.
Rafa Benitez has now decided to switch his attention to the 23-year-old
Birmingham winger having virtually given up on negotiations with Seville.
Benitez knows he can sign two players for the amount Seville are asking for
Alves, which is why he now feels it's in Liverpool's interest to bid for
Pennant and Feyenoord's Dirk Kuyt instead.
The Reds hope a bid in the region of £3.5m will be enough to secure a deal
for Pennant.
Pennant would be the second new arrival of the summer who'd arrive with a
'bad boy reputation', but Benitez is confident a move to Anfield will bring
the best out of a player who was seen as one of England's hottest prospects
a few years ago.
With Birmingham relegated, it's clear Pennant would relish the chance to
return to a top club having failed to make a major impact at Arsenal.
Like Craig Bellamy, Benitez feels the youngster will arrive highly-motivated
and with a point to prove should he be given a second chance at a major
club.
Birmingham are bound to resist any Liverpool bid, but Benitez will hope to
resolve the right midfield situation swiftly having become frustrated in the
long drawn out Alves saga.
With pre-season training starting on Monday, the Spanish boss doesn't want
too many late arrivals, and will particularly eager to have his new recruits
in place before Liverpool head to the Swiss training camp at the end of
July.
Should Liverpool sign Pennant for a reasonable fee, funds will also be
avail-able to bid for Kuyt. Benitez knows it's essential to sign at least
one more striker before the transfer deadline.
JUNE 30
Liverpool
monitor Tunisian stalwart
By Nick Smith - Daily Post
Liverpool are pondering a move for Tunisian World Cup star
Hatem Trabelsi.
The 29-year-old could provide the right-sided strengthening that manager
Rafael Benitez is craving as he loses patience with Sevilla over Daniel
Alves.
The Spanish club are holding firm on their valuation of £10million for the
player, and unless some leeway can be found in the negotiations to get
closer to Liverpool's valuation, Benitez will switch his attention to search
for other options.
Like Alves, Trabelsi is a right-sided player who can operate in defence or
midfield and he is now a free agent after coming to the end of his contract
with Ajax at the end of the season.
The Dutch giants signed the player in 2001 after he had already made his
name on the international stage with Tunisia, including playing in the 1998
World Cup in France.
He also featured in all three group games of their 2002 campaign, but the
highlight of his international career came when Tunisia lifted the African
Cup of Nations on their own soil in 2004.
Trabelsi endured a third consecutive group knock-out at the current World
Cup, but was their most impressive performer in Germany.
Sealing a deal for the free agent means that the money Liverpool save on
Alves could be used to sign Dirk Kuyt from Feyenoord.
JUNE 27
Rennes close on Cheyrou
By Chris Stanton - Sky Sports
Liverpool midfielder Bruno Cheyrou is poised to join Ligue 1 side Rennes,
according to reports from France.
Cheyrou is believed to have caught the eye of Rennes manager Pierre Dreossi
and Ouest France claim the player could sign later this week.
The 28-year-old has long been deemed surplus to requirements at Anfield
after Rafa Benitez succeeded Gerard Houllier as manager of the club in the
summer of 2004.
Signed by Houllier for a fee of £3.7 million from Lille, Benitez never took
to the player and he was allowed to join Marseille on loan in July 2004.
Cheyrou returned to The Reds last summer, but promptly pitched up in Ligue 1
once more, this time agreeing a season-long deal with Bordeaux.
Girondins are unlikely to press ahead with a permanent transfer, however,
and that could leave the way clear for Rennes to tie up a deal.
JUNE 20
Liverpool
negotiating with Feyenoord
Kop Talk
According to reports this morning, Liverpool are continuing to negotiate
with Feyenoord in the hope of reaching an an agreement that will see striker
Dirk Kuyt make the switch to Anfield after the World Cup.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is keen on the Dutch hitman but if Feyenoord
hold out for more than £10million, Rafa could miss out.
Recent suggestions have stated that Feyenoord were looking for around
£14million but Liverpool wouldn't pay that, and rightly so.
Reds chief executive Rick Parry is confident that he can negotiate a deal
around the £10million mark and according to Anfield insiders, he's made it
clear to Feyenoord that he isn't prepared to drag the matter out over the
summer.
JUNE 19
Reds lodge £10m bid?
Clubcall Sports
Liverpool have reportedly increased their bid for Sevilla full-back
Daniel Alves to £10million.
Spanish newspaper AS claim that the La Liga club's chairman Jose Maria del
Nido has rejected the offer, tabled in the last 24 hours.
It is the second bid made by Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, who recently
failed with an £8million offer for the Brazilian defender.
Sevilla are believed to value Alves at £12million - but the Merseysiders
appear unwilling to meet that valuation.
Benitez is hoping to splash a large portion of his summer transfer kitty on
at least one top-class striker - and does not want an Alves transfer to eat
heavily into the funds he has available.
JUNE 19
Benitez
closing in on £6m Bellamy
By Ian Doyle and Nick Smith - Daily Post
Rafael Benitez will hand Craig Bellamy the chance of a dream move to
Liverpool - as Djibril Cisse edges nearer the Anfield exit.
The Liverpool manager has made no secret of his intention to shake-up his
forward line as he prepares his team for a tilt at the Premiership title
next season.
And he has identified Blackburn Rovers striker Bellamy as a major part of
his plans, and is prepared to trigger a clause in the Wales international's
contract that allows him to depart Ewood Park for £6million.
The clause expires at the end of July but Benitez has chosen to act now,
with Liverpool hopeful of finalising the deal for the 26-year-old early next
week.
Bellamy is a boyhood Liverpool supporter and is expected to jump at the
chance of a move to Anfield, which will form the first part of Benitez's
overhaul of his striking department.
Dirk Kuyt of Feyenoord remains his other favoured reinforcement, although
Darren Bent of Charlton Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur's Jermain Defoe are
also being considered.
With Gabriel Paletta signed, Mark Gonzalez waiting on his work permit and
the signature of Daniel Alves seemingly imminent, Benitez's summer
rebuilding plans are now falling into place.
Fernando Morientes has already departed for Valencia in a £3m move, while
the likelihood remains Cisse has played his last game for Liverpool.
Liverpool could be close to netting a transfer fee for Cisse after Marseille
revived their interest in him.
The striker's World Cup dream was shattered when he broke his leg playing
for France last week, which seemed to put pay to Liverpool raising transfer
funds from his sale.
But Marseille president Pape Diouf, who was in a race with Lyon to sign
Cisse before the injury, is set to meet with Liverpool officials to
negotiate a deal.
It's likely that Marseile will offer to take Cisse on loan next season, even
though he's not expected to play again until October, before his move is
made permanent.
JUNE 18
Hamann move on hold
By Adam Bryant - LFC Online
Dietmar Hamann's expected move to Bolton may not now happen.
The Liverpool midfielder is believed to have changed his mind about wanting
the move, while Manchester City have also expressed an interest.
He has said that he wants to return to Germany to end his career, and may
now wait for an offer from the Bundesliga.
JUNE 17
Dudek to leave
By Al Campbell - LFC Online
Jerzy Dudek will leave Liverpool this Summer and return to Holland.
Dudek will return to the Dutch league for next season when he joins AZ
Alkmaar for £1m.
Dudek lost his place in the Liverpool first team to Pepe Reina and his lack
of first team action last season cost him his place in Poland's World Cup
squad.
JUNE 16
D-Day looms in
Bellamy race
By Chris Bascombe - Liverpool Echo
Liverpool target Craig Bellamy will discover if his dream move to Anfield
will go ahead within the next two weeks.
The Blackburn striker has a £6m get-out clause in his contract, but that
expires at the end of this month.
If Liverpool don't activate the clause within the next fortnight, they'll be
unable to secure the Welshman's services for the same cut-price fee.
Bellamy has emerged as the most likely striking target for manager Rafa
Benitez due to the postponement of Djibril Cisse's £8m transfer.
Had Cisse been sold, Benitez was ready to use the funds for a swoop for
Charlton's Darren Bent.
However, the Spanish boss recognises Bellamy would represent top value for
£6m, although there are still significant discussions ongoing at Anfield to
determine the pros and cons of a Bellamy bid.
The fiery Welshman certainly possesses all the attributes Liverpool are
seeking, but the meticulous Benitez wants to be sure the player's off-field
reputation has been exaggerated.
The clock is ticking though, and now Benitez is considering whether to test
the validity of the £6m get-out clause claims which have been widely
reported by making a formal bid.
Liverpool will be helped by the fact Bellamy is desperate to join the Reds
and has even indicated to friends he'd take a pay-cut to move to Merseyside.
If Liverpool make a move, it's understood Bellamy would demand his sale.
Spurs are also chasing the pacy frontman, while Rovers are desperate to keep
him and have offered new terms which remove the £6m clause.
What's clear is if Bellamy doesn't sign for Liverpool before the end of this
month, his chances of doing so will be over.
Part of his attraction is the bargain he'd seemingly represent, butif adeal
isn't done soon Benitez will turn his attention back to other striking
targets.
While a Bellamy deal remains under consideration, Liverpool remain
encouraged by developments in their pursuit of Daniel Alves.
Seville are now resigned to losing their Brazilian and have targeted
Arsenal's Lauren as a re placement.
Liverpool hope to confirm Gary Ablett as the new reserve team boss shortly.
However, his switch across Stanley Park has been delayed because Everton are
claiming compensation.
JUNE 16
Cisse set for
Marseille loan
Matt Ladson - This is Anfield
Reports early this Friday morning in French sportspaper L’Equipe claim
Liverpool have agreed a one year loan deal with Marseille for Djibril Cisse,
with a permanent deal lined up after that.
The French forward broke his leg for the second time in two years in the
World Cup warm up match with China, just as a deal with Lyon or Marseille
was about to be agreed. The unfortunate injury looked to have scuppered any
transfer but now it seems a deal is back on.
If this does come to fruition it is a further signal that Rafa Benitez is in
the hunt for at least one striker this summer, with Morientes departed
already - leaving only Crouch, Fowler and Sinama Pongolle if he stays.
Other rumours today see goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek reportedly subject of a 1
million pound bid from Dutch side AZ Alkmar.
JUNE 14
Liverpool
cleared to sign Alves
BBC Sport Online
Sevilla have reluctantly agreed to sell defender Daniel Alves to
Liverpool, but say the Reds have yet to match their asking price, believed
to be £8m.
The 23-year-old has long been a target for Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez.
Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido said: "We're already talking big money
but Sevilla don't want to lose Daniel.
"He has let us know the offer from Liverpool is the most important. But he
has not put pressure on us and we don't have a harsh relationship with him."
Brazilian Alves has been at Sevilla for four years now and impressed during
their Uefa Cup success in 2006, most notably in the 4-0 demolition of
Middlesbrough in the final.
Liverpool are thought to have already made a £7m bid for the player, which
was deemed too low by his current employers.
Del Nido added: "Liverpool have not yet made us an offer which is
acceptable. Until they meet our asking price, there's no deal."
JUNE 13
Liverpool
linked with Chelsea swoop
Clubcall Sports
Liverpool have been linked with a move for Chelsea winger Damien Duff,
but clubcall understands these reports are wide of the mark.
The Republic of Ireland international's future at Stamford Bridge looks
questionable, with Arjen Robben, Joe Cole, Salomon Kalou and Shaun
Wright-Phillips all competing with him for places in the wide positions.
Recent reports have suggested that Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is seriously
considering a move for the former Blackburn ace, but with Mark Gonzalez and
Harry Kewell already set to battle it out for the left-wing spot at Anfield,
Duff would not seem to be a priority.
A move to Tottenham Hotspur is perhaps more likely, with Spurs desperate to
sign a quality left-winger ahead of next season.
JUNE 11
Reds linked with Viduka
By Al Campbell - LFC Online
Liverpool have been linked with Middlesbrough fatty Mark Viduka according
to the Sunday People.
Viduka is currently captaining Australia at the World Cup but the People
newspaper believes Rafael Benitez is preparing a £1.5m bid for the
Middlesbrough striker.
JUNE 11
Camoranesi
could be available cheap
Anfield Red
Juventus midfielder Mauro Camoranesi has been today linked with a move to
Anfield.
Juventus could be relegated due to recent revelations regarding match
fixing, which could see them drop to Serie B or even lower, which would
spell the start of most of the top players leaving.
Rafa has made no secret of his desire to sign a right winger, and , if Juve
do get relegated, they wont be able to afford any of the wages, as
attendances in Italy are at an all time low, especially in Turin where the
Serie A champions have failed to sell out all season, sometimes attendances
being less than half the capacity of the stadium, along with the less income
from the league.
Juve could be forced to sell their players cheap, and Camoranesi has been
linked with a move away from the club before, and Liverpool could be a
target as they are in the Champions league.
JUNE 9
Reds eye Real
midfielder
By Francisco Acedo - Sky Sports
Liverpool are looking at Real Zaragoza midfielder Antonio Zapater,
according to reports in Spain.
The young midfield man, who is approaching his 21st birthday, is contracted
with Real until next summer but they could be ready to let him leave.
Zapater turned down a new contract with the club recently, with his agent
Gines Carvajal saying the offer was not good enough for a player of his
quality.
Zapater has a €6 million (£4 million) price tag on his head but Zaragoza may
well accept less than that as he could leave them for nothing at the end of
next season.
Some reports say that new Zaragoza boss Victor Fernandez does not see
Zapater fitting in with the system he wants to employ, with the coach happy
to let him leave.
Valencia are also interested and ready to battle it out with their former
manager Rafa Benitez for his signature.
Benitez has not been afraid to raid the Spanish market for players in the
past, and he is always looking for new talent to add to his Anfield squad.
JUNE 9
Cisse
injury to open door for Bellamy bid
By Ian Doyle - Daily Post
Djibril Cisse's injury nightmare could pave the way for Liverpool to move
for Craig Bellamy.
Cisse was yesterday ruled out until at least November after suffering a
broken leg during France's final World Cup warm-up game against China on
Wednesday night.
Rafael Benitez was planning to fund moves in the transfer market with the
anticipated £8million from the sale of Cisse to Marseille or Lyon, with
talks reaching an advanced stage mere hours before the unlucky striker's
horrific injury.
But with the 24-year-old having undergone an operation to repair the broken
tibia and fibula in his right leg, it has ended any hope of Liverpool
selling the player during the summer.
Now Benitez must realign his sights as he seeks to bolster his striking
department with the capture of two new forwards after Fernando Morientes's
departure to Valencia last month.
Feyenoord's £10m-rated Holland international Dirk Kuyt is the Liverpool
manager's first choice, followed by one of Darren Bent, Jermain Defoe or
Bellamy.
But with both Bent and Defoe having been handed similar price tags to Kuyt,
Bellamy, available for £6m due to a clause in his contract, represents the
best value.
Liverpool have until the end of July to trigger the clause, after which
Blackburn can place their own value on the player. The Ewood Park outfit are
aware of possible Anfield interest in their most saleable asset and are
ready to offer Bellamy an improved contract to persuade him to stay.
However, the Wales international is a boyhood Liverpool supporter and would
jump at the chance of a move to the FA Cup winners.
JUNE 4
Benitez feels
the need for Steed
TEAMtalk
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is set to test Fulham's resolve by offering
£4million for wantaway midfielder Steed Malbranque.
The French playmaker only has one year left on his current deal at Craven
Cottage - and has turned down the offer of a new contract.
That leaves boss Chris Coleman in a dilemma over whether to take what he can
for Malbranque or keep him for next season and see him leave on a free
transfer next summer.
Fulham finished 12th in the Premiership last term after winning four of
their last five games, so money is not so tight in Coleman's coffers that he
would have to accept a low offer.
Benitez is willing to put £4million in hard cash on the table, though, and
that could be enough to prise the 26-year-old from the Londoners.
The Anfield chief wants to add more creative flair to his ranks in order to
mount a title push next season - and is awaiting the arrival of winger Mark
Gonzalez from his loan spell at Real Sociedad.
Malbranque can play on both flanks, in the centre of the park or just behind
a lone striker and Benitez feels his versatility and spark could vastly
improve Liverpool's attacking armoury.
JUNE 2
Aimar
poised for Liverpool transfer
Fans FC
Liverpool have been given the green-light to lodge a bid for
Pablo Aimar.
The skilful Argentine playmaker has been made available for transfer from
Valencia, after being reduced to nothing more than a bit-part role under
coach Quique Flores recently.
Reds manager Rafael Benitez is a huge fan of Aimar having worked with him at
the Mestalla, and has been monitoring his situation ever since arriving at
Anfield.
A bid of as little as £5million may succeed in bringing the player to
Merseyside, just a fraction of the £14million River Plate received for him
five years ago.
JUNE 2
Liverpool in
talks with midfielder
Clubcall Sports
Clubcall understands that Liverpool are in talks with Fulham midfielder
Steed Malbranque over a proposed summer move to Anfield.
The 26-year-old playmaker has only 12 months remaining on his current deal
and it is believed Fulham are reluctantly ready to listen to offers for the
player.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has been tracking the Belgian born star for
over a year and could test Fulham's resolve with a bid in the region of
£3.5million.
Malbranque has been one of Fulham's most influential players since his
transfer from Lyon in 2001, and his free scoring exploits from midfield have
netted him 31 goals from 169 appearances.
However, Liverpool will face stiff competition for the player's signature as
Manchester City are also keen on the schemer.
JUNE 1
Marseille in for
outbound Cisse
By James Carroll - Shankly Gates
Liverpool are in negotiations with Marseille over Djibril Cisse, the
Liverpool Echo reports. The Reds are hoping to raise as much as £8m from the
sale of the French international.
Cisse was told by Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez that he is not in his future
plans at the club and Marseille, the club he supported as a boy, have opened
dialogue with the Reds.
Despite netting 19 goals last season, including three in cup finals, Benitez
has never taken to Cisse and his departure will come as no great surprise,
just like that of Fernando Morientes to Valencia. Gerard Houllier's Lyon are
also interested.
Meanwhile, Monaco are reportedly hoping to snap-up another Frenchman set for
an Anfield exit. It's thought that they are ready to launch a bid for Djimi
Traore.
Wigan Athletic are keen on goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, who spent last season
on-loan at West Bromwich Albion.
JUNE 1
£9.5million Bent set for Liverpool move?
Fans FC
Just a season after his £3million move to Charlton Athletic from Ipswich
Town, Bent’s value has tripled in the transfer market due to his debut
Premiership season scoring exploits.
From 36 starts in the league, the striker knocked in 19 goals making him the
highest English goalscorer in the country – although this still wasn’t
enough for a call-up to the World Cup squad.
The 22-year-old knows he would stand a far better chance playing for one of
the country’s top teams, and will no doubt be interested to hear of
Liverpool’s interest.
Rafael Benitez is eager to sign a top-class striker this summer as he
prepares a bid for the league title, and has earmarked the Addicks star for
a £9.5million move to Anfield.
However, the Londoners are desperate to hold onto their top player, with
chairman Richard Murray saying: "We are determined to keep him - he's been
absolutely great.”
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