JULY 31
Sochaux
linked with Liverpool approach
Kop Talk
French outfit Sochaux are reported to have made an enquiry regarding the
availability of Anthony Le Tallec.
If you believe the rumours, Rafa didn't like the player's attitude from day
one which is why he didn't hesitate in loaning him out.
His attitude was also questioned while with Sunderland last season and he's
publicly stated that he wants to leave Anfield and return to France.
If the boss can find a buyer he wouldn't hesitate in selling him but for now
he may have to loan him out if there's no sign of any cash.
Big things were expected from the French youngster but so far he's failed to
live up to those expectations.
JULY 27
Brescia starlet
catches Reds' eye
By Nadia Carminati - Sky Sports
Liverpool have asked for information on Brescia starlet Savio Nsereko,
according to reports in Italy.
In the transfer speculation columns in Italy, Nsereko has emerged as a
potential target for FA Cup winners Liverpool.
Nsereko is a teenage midfielder who was born in Uganda, but also holds a
German passport.
He started out his career in Germany with 1860 Munich, but linked up with
Serie B side Brescia last summer.
Last season was spent in the Brescia youth team and Nsereko, who turned 17
on Thursday, is rated highly by his current club.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez is always keen to add young potential to his squad
and is thought to have enquired about Nsereko's talent.
JULY 26
Reds back in for Kuyt
By Gerrit van Leeuwen - Sky Sports
Liverpool are reported to have rekindled their interest in Feyenoord
striker Dirk Kuyt.
Reports emanating from Holland claim Liverpool have reopened talks with
Feyenoord about signing the Dutch international.
The FA Cup holders have been linked with Kuyt for some time after keeping
tabs on his progress at De Kuip.
Kuyt's future at Feyenoord has been the subject of intense speculation for
some time with the player considering moving on a for a new challenge.
Liverpool's interest in Kuyt was thought to have waned because of
Feyenoord's price tag on the player.
The Dutch giants are thought to be holding out for a fee in the region of
£10 million for Kuyt, which initially put Liverpool off.
However, reports are circulating that Liverpool are ready to do business
with Feyenoord to bring Kuyt to Anfield.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez is in the market for a new striker having let
Fernando Morientes and Djibril Cisse move on and he is trying to raise funds
by offloading some of his fringe players.
JULY 25
Pennant could
be Liverpool bound
By Paul Walker and John Curtis - PA Sport
Liverpool are on the brink of capturing winger Jermaine Pennant in a
£6million plus move from Birmingham.
Sources close to the Coca-Cola Championship club claim a deal has been
agreed and that the player is on his way to Liverpool for further talks.
Liverpool have been trailing the former Arsenal youngster for several weeks,
but had Sevilla's Brazilian right-sided midfielder Daniel Alves as their
number one target.
But the Spanish club are insisting on a £12million deal, and Liverpool boss
Rafael Benitez considers that too high, a fee which would wipe out his
entire summer transfer budget.
Benitez claimed on Monday that there "could be another two players in by the
weekend," and his first target was clearly Pennant.
Birmingham have confirmed that they have turned down one bid of £3.5million
from the Anfield club, and Blues boss Steve Bruce claimed he was insisting
on an £8million fee because of the 25% sell-on clause in the deal when he
signed the player from Arsenal for £3million 12 months ago.
Talks during the day are believed to have seen Liverpool agree a £6.2million
deal, which will leave Benitez funds to bring in another striker.
That could be Feyenoord's Holland international Dirk Kuyt, but again they
will have to try to negotiate down the Dutch club's £12million asking price.
Liverpool have tried one player-cash approach, believed to involve Jan
Kromkamp and Jerzy Dudek in part exchange, which was rejected.
But if the deal for Pennant - whose agent declined to discuss the situation
tonight - finally goes through, it will solve a year long problem for
Benitez.
He has been trying to sign a right-sided attacker for the past three
transfer windows.
JULY 25
Benitez lands £6m
Pennant
By David Maddock - Daily Mirror
Jermaine pennant will join Liver pool after Birmingham last night
accepted a £6million bid for the England Under-21 winger.
Anfield boss Rafael Benitez conceded he had been priced out of the race to
sign Daniel Alves, his No.1 target to play wide on the right, after Sevilla
refused to budge on their inflated £12m asking price for the Brazilian.
Benitez admitted Liverpool simply could not afford to buy Alves and instead
switched his sights to 23-year-old former Arsenal midfielder Pennant.
Liverpool had an initial bid of £3m turned down by City manager Steve Bruce,
but last night Benitez went back with double that amount and Birmingham -
relegated from the Premiership last season - had little option but to
reluctantly accept.
Pennant is expected to complete contract talks with Liverpool today and, if
he passes a medical, the deal should go through in time for him to join his
new team-mates when they fly out this week for a pre-season training camp in
Austria.
It is a dramatic about-turn for Benitez, who felt certain of landing Alves,
and even travelled to Spain last week in an attempt to hurry through a deal.
"You can say the price is the price, but you also have to consider the
market, and we cannot pay a fee over the market price," said Benitez.
"Some clubs may pay more than the player is worth, but we can't do that at
Liverpool. We can't pay over the market price.
"I am not the kind of manager who will pay £20m if the value is only
£10million." Benitez eventually lost patience with Sevilla, who refused to
budge on the £12m they wanted for Alves.
But Benitez had little room for manoeuvre as Alves would use up all his
transfer kitty, leaving him nothing to bring in the forward he also wants.
He has been chasing Holland striker Dirk Kuyt all summer, but with a price
tag close to a prohibitive £12m the switch to Pennant instead of Alves still
leaves him with a chance of landing the Feyenoord player.
JULY 24
Preston to
enter Mellor battle
Clubcall Sports
Prestin are the latest club to be linked with a move for Liverpool
striker Neil Mellor, who looks set to be moved on from Anfield this summer.
Paul Simpson is keen to add to strikeforce rather than deplete it and has
already been confirmed talks over a possible deal for Geoff Horsfield, and
now Mellor is on the wish-list.
The striker seems to have little future at Anfield and spent the second half
of last season on loan with Wigan, and would relish the chance of regular
first-team football.
Liverpool have already added Craig Bellamy to the squad this summer and
another striker is on Rafa Benitez's wish-list meaning Mellor will be
allowed to leave.
A loan move is the most likely option for North End but Liverpool are trying
to raise funds for Benitez's own transfer plans and may look to do a
permanent deal for the striker.
JULY 24
Striker
rumoured to be
discussing
Liverpool move
Kop Talk
19-year-old Greek striker Lazarus Hrjstodoylopoyloy is rumoured to be on
Merseyside discussing a move to Anfield.
The PAOK forward was first scouted last season and favourable reports were
handed over to Reds boss Rafael Benitez.
Reports in Greece claim that the player's club are none to happy with our
alleged approach. They state that the youngster missed training without
permission yesterday.
It is claimed that if PAOK discover he has been on Merseyside discussing a
possible move to Anfield, that they will make an official complaint.
JULY 21
Duff given permission to speak to Liverpool
Kop Talk
Chelsea winger Damien Duff has been given permission to discuss a
possible transfer to Anfield.
Former Reds boss Gerard Houllier tried to bring him to Anfield but a
proposed move was shelved when Roman Abramovich arrived at Stamford Bridge.
For the benefit of those on other planets, we simply couldn't compete
financially as a result of Chelsea's dramatic cash injection at the time.
The 27-year-old Irishman has been excused from training today so that he can
sort out his future.
Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are also keen on the possibility of
landing him but it is highly unlikely that he would snub the chance to sign
for Liverpool if his previous opinions about the club haven't changed.
JULY 20
Pennant deal close?
By Al Campbell - LFC Online
Liverpool are rumoured to be ready to bid £6m for Birmingham City's
Jermaine Pennant.
Pennant could be a Liverpool player by the end of the week as the Reds seem
prepared to match Birmingham's valuation of the player.
Rafael Benitez had been looking at other options, such as Daniel Alves of
Sevilla, but with that move seemingly stalled it looks like the Liverpool
boss will turn to Pennant.
JULY 20
Reds target Real
starlet
By Peter ORourke - Sky Sports
Liverpool are thought to be planning another raid on Spain for Real
Madrid youngster Esteban Granero.
Reports emanating from Spain suggests Liverpool are planning a move for the
highly-rated midfielder.
Granero is currently plying his trade at Madrid B side's Castilla and he has
impressed in the Segunda Liga.
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has been alerted to the attacking midfielder by
his Spanish scouting staff and he is believed to be a big fan of Granero.
Benitez is looking to bring in a new midfielder ahead of the new season and
he could make a move for the Spanish youth international.
The 18-year-old is highly-regarded within the corridors of Real Madrid and
the Spanish giants are determined to keep hold of the young talent.
JULY 18
Kuyt flies in
By John Edwards - Daily Mail
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is on the brink of landing £10million Dirk
Kuyt after wearing down Feyenoord's resistance with no fewer than four bids
for the Holland striker.
Anfield sources believe Benitez will finally get his man in the next 48
hours after bombarding reluctant sellers Feyenoord with a series of
part-exchange proposals that involved keeper Jerzy Dudek and right back Jan
Kromkamp.
With Kuyt, who is 26 on Saturday, making it clear he favours a move to the
Premiership, and placing Anfield ahead of Newcastle as his preferred
destination, Feyenoord appear on the point of caving in after allowing him
to miss training and leaving him off the team picture for the new season.
Players on World Cup duty were due back yesterday for the start of
pre-season training and the official squad photograph, but Kuyt was absent
from both.
He has been given seven days to sort out his future and Feyenoord are aware
he has told friends that joining Liverpool would be a 'dream move'.
Liverpool feared Feyenoord's insistence on a £13.75m fee would dash their
hopes but are now investigating claims that he has a £10.3m escape clause in
his contract.
An opening gambit of £5.5m plus Kromkamp was given short shrift, as was a
follow-up package of £6.2m plus the Holland right back and former Feyenoord
keeper Dudek.
A £6.9m-plus-player bid also failed and Feyenoord were holding out for their
original valuation when Liverpool returned with a straight cash offer of
£8.25m.
Feyenoord are desperate to keep their World Cup striker after seeing him
carry their attack almost single-handedly last season — when he scored 22
goals in 33 league outings — and have told him he must report for training
and forget about leaving, unless a compromise is reached by the end of the
week.
Benitez wants him to compete for a place up front with Peter Crouch, Craig
Bellamy and Robbie Fowler and hopes some common ground can be found around
£10m.
JULY 18
Charlton join chase for Liverpool defender
Fans FC
Djimi Traore has emerged as a target for Addicks boss Iain Dowie
The Frenchman, who can play either as a left-back or in the centre of
defence, has been told he can leave this summer by Liverpool boss Rafael
Benitez.
Bolton have been linked with the player, who is available for £600,000,
while a move to Birmingham City has also been mentioned as part of an
exchange deal for winger Jermaine Pennant.
JULY 17
Benitez aims to
bring in Alves
By Nick Peet - Liverpool Echo
Rafa Benitez was today reported to be in Spain trying to resolve the
long-running bid to bring Daniel Alves to Anfield.
The Reds boss left Wrexham within minutes of the final whistle and reports
today claim he landed in Spain. Chief executive Rick Parry said: "We are
happy with who we have brought in but we haven't finished yet."
Benitez confirmed last week that a right-sided midfielder is his transfer
priority, though Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido has said: "I've
already forgotten about it, because I don't want to put him in the shop
window."
Reports in Holland also claim Dirk Kuyt's future will be decided in the next
48 hours. Liverpool have been tracking the Feyenoord striker for some time,
but cannot afford both Alves and the Dutch international.
JULY 16
Rafa linked
with shock Real raid
EatSleepSport
Liverpool are said to be lining up a move Real Madrid star Guti who has
confessed he could be on the move this summer.
Reports in Spain claim the attacking midfielder will not figure in the plans
of new coach Fabio Capello at the Bernabeu and that has triggered rumours
Liverpool along with Manchester United and Arsenal are keen.
The 29-year-old has also revealed he fears for his future under the new
regime and could decide to move on if he is to slip down the pecking order
with the Spanish giants.
"If new people come in or if the coach decides I'm not going to play then
the best things is to do something new," the player revealed when quizzed
over his future.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez is still looking to strengthen his squad and has also
confirmed his interest in Juventus striker David Trezeguet along with his
team-mates Gianluca Zambrotta and Mauro Camoranesi.
JULY 14
Bolton
ready to make bid for Traore
By Nick Smith - Daily Post
Bolton Wanderers are lining up a bid for Djimi Traore.
The out-of-favour left back has been told by manager Rafael Benitez that he
can leave for the right price in a bid to generate more transfer funds.
And after missing out on Didi Hamann when he decided to go to Manchester
City yesterday, Bolton manager Sam Allardyce is ready to swoop on Anfield
again, with a bid in the region of £1million.
JULY 9
Liverpool linked with former Houllier target
Kop Talk
Liverpool have again been linked with Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun.
Former Reds boss Gerard Houllier was an admirer of the West Ham ace who has
also been linked with us several times while Rafa has been in charge.
Today's newspapers claim that the Benayoun is wanted by Rafa to help supply
the attack.
JULY 6
Spurs in Kewell link
EatSleepSport
Tottenham have been linked with a move to bring Liverpool's Australian
winger Harry Kewell to White Hart Lane.
The search for a wide left sided player has seen Spurs boss Martin Jol
linked with a host of players including Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing,
Anderlecht's Christian Wilhelmsson, Chelsea's Damien Duff and free agent
Denilson and now Kewell has been added to that list.
Liverpool have been successful in landing a work permit for Chilean winger
Mark Gonzalez which means they could allow Kewell to leave.
Despite a better season last time out Kewell's time at Anfield as been
blighted by injury and loss of form and a reasonable offer may prove enough
to persuade Rafael Benitez to allow him to leave.
Tottenham are not alone in having an interest in the player, who had a mixed
World cup with the Australians, as the former Leeds winger is also being
linked with a switch to German giants Bayern Munich.
JULY 4
Reds back in for
Joaquin
By Mark Kendall - Sky Sports
Reports in Spain claim Liverpool have rekindled their interest in Real
Betis star Joaquin.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez is desperate to bring in a right-sided midfielder and
has been chasing Sevilla's Daniel Alves.
However, he appears to have been priced out of a move for the Brazilian
having refused to meet the Primera outfit's asking price.
It now seems he has retrained his sights on Joaquin whom he was linked with
last season.
The wide man has just returned from World Cup duty and has made it clear
that he intends to depart Betis for a new challenge this summer.
Los Verdiblancos are ready to grant him his wish with new president Pepe
Leon admitting he will cash in if the right offer comes along.
"Betis would be equally happy to keep Joaquin or to have their coffers
full," Leon stated. "Him leaving would not ruin the dream (of taking over as
president) for me.
"There have always been a lot of teams after the player, but nobody has yet
decided to make the final move."
Liverpool could be about to change all that with Spanish sources suggesting
they will offer €16 million (£10 million) plus Antonio Barragan, Jerzy Dudek
and Boudewijn Zenden to land their man.
However, it now appears unlikely that Barragan will be used as a makeweight
in the deal as he is close to agreeing a move to Deportivo La Coruna.
Betis were interested in the young defender, but the chance to link up with
former coach Joaquin Caparros - with whom he worked at Sevilla before
joining Liverpool - seems to have swayed Barragan towards Depor.
JULY 4
Liverpool in
talks with defender?
Clubcall Sports
Liverpool have emerged as clear favourites to land Tunisian international
defender Hatem Trabelsi, according to reports.
Claims are suggesting that talks are at an advanced stage with the
right-back - who is now a free agent following his five-year spell with
Ajax.
Reds boss Rafael Benitez was hoping to sign Sevilla's Daniel Alves, but the
£10million asking price of the Brazilian appears higher than Liverpool's
valuation of the player, leaving Benitez to go for Trabelsi.
The 28-year-old impressed for Tunisia during the World Cup and was
understood to be a target for Arsenal, however, it appears Liverpool are
favourites to land his signature.
JULY 4
Pearce
moves in to try and get Hamann
By Ian Doyle - Daily Post Staff
Manchester City are tracking Dietmar Hamann as the Liverpool midfielder's
proposed move to Bolton Wanderers looks set to finally collapse.
Bolton believed they were on the verge of signing the 32-year-old former
Germany international after agreeing a deal in principle last month.
But with Hamann understood to have had second thoughts over the transfer as
Bolton instead concentrated on securing the services of their current
defensive midfielder Ivan Campo for another two seasons.
Now Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce is ready to offer Hamann the
two-year deal he is seeking, although there are a number of substantial
obstacles City must overcome for the move to become a reality.
Hamann would have to agree to a significant cut in wages, while the transfer
is likely to be met with anger and possible action from Bolton, with
Trotters manager Sam Allardyce unhappy at the prospect of the midfielder
joining a rival Premiership club having effectively reneged on a deal to
move to the Reebok.
JULY 3
Alves deal still on as Pennant enters picture
By Ian Doyle - Daily Post
Liverpool have not completely given up hope of signing Daniel Alves -
although Rafael Benitez is prepared to turn to Jermaine Pennant should his
patience finally run out.
Reports from Spain yesterday stated Liverpool have offered Sevilla
£9.5million for Brazilian right-back Alves, a fee which would rise to almost
£11m based on appearances and other bonus payments depending on the player's
progress at Anfield.
It has been suggested the stumbling block is the mode of payment, with the
Spaniards agreeing to the deal in principle but seeking a larger down
payment.
Benitez remains keen on the player but is on the brink of pulling the plug
on the deal, with pre-season starting on Monday and the Spaniard wanting
time to work with his new signings.
And the Liverpool manager is ready to move for Birmingham City winger
Pennant as a cheaper alternative.
With Birmingham facing up to Championship football after their relegation
last season, Pennant would need no persuading to depart for Anfield.
And with the 23-year-old commanding a fee in the region of £3. 5m, that
would leave Benitez the funds to bring in another main striker, with
Feyenoord's Dirk Kuyt still his preferred choice.
JULY 2
Kewell exit still on
Kop Talk
According to newspaper reports today, Liverpool winger Harry Kewell is
still facing an Anfield exit.
It is claimed that Rafa will get shot of Kewell if Daniel Alves is granted a
work permit this week.
The Liverpool boss needs to sell to fund a move for Dirk Kuyt but with
Kewell currently out injured, it makes an immediate exit look highly
unlikely.
JULY 2
No contract
offer for Trabelsi
Kop Talk
According to newspaper reports today here in the UK, Ajax defender Hatem
Trabelsi is yet to receive a contract offer from Liverpool.
The Tunisian star has been linked with the Reds for some time and as
he's available on a Bosman free, he's attracting renewed interest from
Anfield.
It is claimed that Rafa will decide this week whether to press ahead with a
deal.
Trabelsi is currently enjoying a family holiday while his agent tries to
find him a new club.
JULY 1
Reds back away
from Kuyt move
Anfield Online
Liverpool are believed to have decided against a move for Dirk Kuyt and
are instead refocussing efforts on signing Jermaine Defoe after Feyenoord
issued their price tag.
Feyenoord want £14 million, and with Arsenal and striker-less Newcastle now
in the fray the reds simply do not believe the player is worth the bidding
war.
Although the reds have been monitoring the Dutch striker for the best part
of 2 seasons, the manager and board both believe any figure above £10
million is simply not justified for the unproven international player.
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